The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a UK law that regulates building work affecting shared walls, boundaries, or structures between neighbouring properties. It ensures that both building owners and adjoining owners are protected by requiring formal notices, agreements, and surveyor involvement where necessary. The Act helps prevent disputes and sets clear procedures for carrying out work safely and fairly.

You need to serve a Party Wall Notice when your planned building work affects a shared wall, boundary, or structure with a neighbouring property. Such work would likely include extensions, loft conversions, basement excavations, or structural changes near the boundary line. The notice gives your neighbour formal information about the work and allows them to consent, dissent, or appoint a surveyor to protect their interests under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

The process starts with the building owner serving a Party Wall Notice to any affected neighbours. They can either consent or dissent. If they dissent, one or two surveyors are appointed to prepare a Party Wall Award, which sets out how the work must be carried out and includes a Schedule of Condition of the neighbour’s property. Once the Award is agreed, the work can begin.

As an adjoining owner under The Act, you have a number of rights, such as being formally notified of relevant works and to have a surveyor appointed to protect your property. You're also entitled to safeguards against damage, with any harm caused by the works required to be repaired or compensated for.

In most cases, the building owner (the person carrying out the work) pays the surveyor’s fees for both sides. This is because they are the ones benefiting from the proposed works. If the adjoining owner appoints their own surveyor, those fees are also usually covered by the building owner, unless the neighbour requests extra work that falls outside the Act.