What is a Party Wall Award?
A Party Wall Award (also referred to as Party Wall Agreement or Party Wall Award Notice) is a legally enforceable document prepared and issued by party wall surveyors to resolve disputes in accordance with the Party Wall Act. It is a formal agreement between the property owners (seriously, “adjoining owners”) sharing a common boundary, usually in circumstances when the one owner (the building owner) plans to undertake work that will impact the party wall, boundary or adjoining property of the other owner.
The Party Wall Award will include the rights, obligations and responsibilities for all parties involved in the building project (including the building owner(s) and adjoining owner(s)). It will usually contain:
- The proposed work – an indication of the nature and extent of the development that is covered by the Party Wall Act, e.g. if a new wall is being erected, if an existing wall is cut, excavating near the party wall, etc.
- The Party Wall Surveyors – the party wall surveyors are appointed in order for the respective parties – party wall surveyors have obligations to both parties to comply with the Party Wall Act and will act if there are disputes during or after works.
- Access and working hours: It outlines the provisions for access to the adjoining owner’s property for carrying out the necessary construction work and specifies any limitations or restrictions on working hours to minimise disruption.
- Condition surveys: It may require the surveyor(s) to conduct a survey of the adjoining owner’s property in the form of a condition survey prior to the building work commencing. This will be to record the existing condition of the property and provide a basis for assessing any damage caused by the building work.
- Schedule of condition: It may include a detailed schedule of condition of the party wall and the adjoining owner’s property before the building work starts. This can assist in deciding where any damage should be attributed in the future if a disagreement were to arise.
- Dispute resolution: It provides a process for resolving any disputes during or after the building work, such as the extent of damage caused, whether repairs should take place, or any further costs required.
Once the Party Wall Award is agreed and issued, all parties are obliged to its terms. The Party Wall Award can protect both the building owner(s) and also the adjoining owner(s)’ rights and interests, and is designed to provide a fair, friendly cooperative way to deal with party wall matters while reducing potential disputes.
Please get in touch with us for a free consultation. Our well-versed and professional staff will determine whether the suggested work is covered by the Party Wall Act based on your drawings, which you can share with us via email or call. We offer you our best, customised, and risk-free advice. We are also pleased to provide our professional services to Greater London and the surrounding areas.
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📍 London CR7 7RQ
📞 0203 576 0786 / 0777 3360033
📧 info@partywallssurveyors.co.uk