Faulkners Surveyors Sheffield

If you’re planning to undertake construction work on a shared boundary with your neighbour, you might need a party wall agreement.

It’s a legal document that outlines the responsibilities and rights of both parties involved in the construction process.

Who is Liable to Pay for Party Wall Surveyors and Negotiate a Party Wall Agreement?

If you are planning to carry out any building work that could affect a shared wall between you and your neighbour in Sheffield, you must comply with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This act sets out legal requirements for building owners to protect the rights of their neighbours and prevent disputes. One of the requirements is to appoint party wall surveyors to negotiate a party wall agreement. But who is liable to pay for the surveyors and negotiate the agreement? In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to answer this question.

Who is Liable to Pay for Party Wall Surveyors?

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 states that the building owner in Sheffield who plans to carry out the building work is liable to pay for the party wall surveyors. This means that if you are the building owner, you are responsible for covering the costs of the surveyors that your neighbour appoints to represent them. However, if your neighbour chooses to appoint their own surveyor, they will be responsible for covering the costs of their own surveyor.

It is important to note that the costs of the party wall surveyors can vary depending on the complexity of the project and the surveyor’s fees. Therefore, it is recommended to get multiple quotes from different surveyors to ensure that you are getting a fair price.

Negotiating a Party Wall Agreement

Once the party wall surveyors are appointed, they will begin the process of negotiating a party wall agreement. This agreement sets out the rights and obligations of both parties during the building works, and aims to prevent any disputes from arising.

The party wall agreement will include details such as the start date of the building works, the scope of the works, and any access requirements. It will also specify the responsibilities of each party, such as who is responsible for covering the costs of any damage caused during the works in Sheffield.

Advantages of a Party Wall Agreement

There are several advantages to having a party wall agreement in place in Sheffield, including:

It ensures that both parties are aware of their rights and obligations during the building works
It helps to prevent disputes from arising between neighbours
It establishes a procedure for handling any conflicts that may emerge during construction.
It can help to protect both parties from any potential legal action

Conclusion

In conclusion, the building owner who plans to carry out the building work is liable to pay for the party wall surveyors. However, if the neighbour in Sheffield chooses to appoint their own surveyor, they will be responsible for covering the costs of their own surveyor. It is important to get multiple quotes from different surveyors to ensure that you are getting a fair price. Once the surveyors are appointed, they will negotiate a party wall agreement, which is important to have in place to prevent disputes from arising. Faulkners, based in Sheffield, can provide professional party wall surveying services to ensure that you comply with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.