Three Considerations Before Sending a Party Wall Notice

Building works can be contentious.

They’re noisy. They generate a lot of dust. And, they really test neighbourly relations.

As with all building works, getting along makes a big difference.

Which is why we have put together these three neighbourly tips to consider before sending a party wall notice.

1. Early communication: Well before you appoint a contractor and before you send a party wall notice, it’s a good idea to meet with your neighbours in person to discuss your intentions. As well as it being the neighbourly thing to do, such a meeting gives your neighbours a chance to bring up any concerns they may have. For example, do they have a rose bush near your proposed excavation works, or do they work from home adjacent to the party wall?
   
   While these may not be big concerns to you, to your neighbours they can be significant. That's why we always recommend attempting to meet your neighbours as we all know how easy it is to get caught up in what we want to achieve. In our experience, this level of effort can go a long way in helping to build trust and improving relationships with neighbours.

2. Schedule of Condition: People spend a lot of money on property. To reduce the chances of a big fallout if claims for damage arise, strongly recommend commissioning a Schedule of Condition of your neighbour's property ahead of any proposed building works.
   
   A Schedule of Condition will draw a line in the sand as to the condition of a neighbour’s property before building works. By having this and providing your neighbours with a copy, this generally makes any disputes over future damage a lot easier to resolve. And while neighbours can consent to a party wall notice and not request a Schedule of Condition, it is good practice to get one put in place. Of course, we can help with this with our Schedule of Condition service.

3. Pay for experience: Enlisting the help of an experienced party wall surveyor can save you a lot of stress when notifying neighbours, resolving disputes and if things go wrong. An experienced surveyor can help address any issues that arise and provide professional remediation suggestions. While experience does come at a cost, this cost is usually minimal to the stress that is caused to all parties if protocols under the Act aren’t correctly followed, and if damage occurs during works.

If you require assistance in navigating the Party Wall Act or if you would like to learn more about our Schedule of Condition service, then we would be delighted to help. Call us on 0203 951 1032 to discuss your requirements.