When you think about undertaking a building construction project, you must ensure whether the shared boundary wall or party wall with an adjacent neighbouring property is there. If it may impact a party wall, it will be mandatory to understand your roles and tasks to perform according to the Party Wall Act 1996. Hiring a professional party wall surveyor in Merton can ensure that your construction work complies with all legal requirements while protecting your rights on the property. From minimizing disputes with neighbours to processing through legal steps, it is indispensable to hire a professional party wall specialist.
What are the steps for a party wall survey?
Step 1 – At the beginning, it’s necessary to send a written notice to your neighbour stating where the intended construction works will be mentioned. This Party Wall Notice needs to be served two months before the proposed date of starting the project. If the neighbour agrees to the home reconstruction work, you can initiate the work without any further legal steps. Other than that, if your neighbour disagrees or does not respond, you must engage a professional party wall surveyor in Merton for his assistance in this.
Step 2 – Once you serve the party wall notice, your adjacent property owner will get three options:
- If your neighbour gives his consent to the proposed construction work, they can send a written document. In this situation, you can proceed ahead with the building renovation project.
- In case, if your neighbour doesn’t respond to the party wall notice within 14 days, both the property owners should hire a professional party wall surveyor. In this scenario, the professional party wall specialist will draw up an agreement known as party wall award to make sure the construction process carries forward with the lowest impact on the adjacent property.
- Your neighbour might ask you for some clarifications or modifications before they offer written consent. In this situation, a professional party wall surveyor will facilitate for an uninterrupted outcome.
However, while appointing a party wall surveyor in Merton, you must look for someone who is qualified, experienced and trustworthy to manage the complete process.
Step 3 – Before your party wall professional conducts an assessment, you should gather all required documentation which is relevant to the upcoming construction project. The documents include:
- Detailed architectural drawings and plans of the proposed construction work are required that give information on structural changes or any other important architectural modifications of the party wall.
- If there are significant structural changes such as the installation of steel beams or the removal of internal parts from a load-bearing wall, you’ll need complete engineering reports as a supporting document of your plans.
- A proper timeline of the expected start date and completion dates need to be provided including the key milestones.
Step 4 – When there’s any dispute regarding the proposed construction project, a party wall surveyor helps resolve the disputes and makes you experience hassle-free home renovation. Both you and your neighbour can appoint a single party wall specialist or two different surveyors to take legal action as per the Party Wall Act 1996. The surveyors will make a party wall award mentioning the terms and conditions of the construction project. Also, this must include all the protection measures and the expected timeline for completion of the project.
Key takeaway
We, Party Walls Surveyors, specialise in offering cost-effective and comprehensive party wall surveying services. Our professional services include serving party wall notices, schedule of condition reports etc. For our impartial and specialized advice, book an appointment with us today and avail our comprehensive services.