Faulkners Surveyors is a trustworthy and expert firm of party wall surveyors in St Helens, specialising in all party wall matters in St Helens and the Home Counties. The company was founded in 2010 with the coming together of 3 independent knowledgeable Surveyors who specialise in this niché location of surveying.
Do I need a party wall agreement in St Helens?
When do you need a party wall notice or party wall agreement (technically called a party wall award)? Our guide gives you all the answers you require to get the right consents to perform your building works. And, if you need one, how to discover a party wall surveyor.
When do I require a party wall agreement?
- A party wall is the shared wall, usually between a terrace or semi-detached home, and divides the houses of 2 different owners
- It likewise includes garden walls developed over a border and excavations near a neighbour’s property (within 3 or six meters, depending on the depth of the new foundations).
- In the house, Party Wall Agreements are most frequently required for developing works that include loft conversions, the insertion of wet proof courses and the digging of new structures (as would be required in constructing an extension).
Getting permission for party wall building works.
- Prior to party wall building works can begin, the property owner (Building Owner) requires a composed Party Wall Agreement from all affected neighbours (Adjacent Owners).
- Or a surveyor needs to be designated to prepare a Party Wall Award (the agreed document outlining how the works should advance). Instantly discover certified local Party Wall Surveyors with our complimentary Party Wall Surveyor service.
- To begin this process, the homeowner has to serve a Party Wall Notice on their neighbours, in writing, about the prepared party wall works.
Serving a party wall notice.
Serving notice can be provided for free, using suitable standard kinds or by a party wall surveyor for a flat cost. A letter of acknowledgement for the neighbour to return and complete is normally consisted of.
A house owner has to provide two months composed notification on building works which impact a party wall or boundary, or one month’s notice for excavations.
Planning authorization is not required to serve a Party Wall notice, and as soon as notice has been served, the homeowner has up to a year to start work.
Acquiring assent.
When notice is served, a neighbour has fourteen days to react, after which, there are 3 possible outcomes:.
i) The neighbour gives assent in composing providing the homeowner will rectify any issues.
- In such straightforward cases, there is no need to appoint a party wall surveyor or have a Party Wall Award.
- The house owner ought to take dated images of the party wall and preferably have actually concurred composed notes of any cracks, with copies for both.
- Or a surveyor could be appointed to examine and prepare a schedule of condition to reduce the threat of conflicts later on. This should be done shortly prior to the work begins.
Dissent.
ii) If the neighbour dissents (or if they do not NOT reply within 14 days, in which case, they are assumed to have dissented), a Party Wall Award is required.
- In this case, both homeowner and neighbour can appoint ONE Concurred Property surveyor, normally within 10 days, who can act impartially for both.
- The agreed surveyor should be independent and NOT the very same property surveyor the property owner might be using for their own works. Otherwise their neighbour is not likely to view the property surveyor as neutral.
- The Agreed Surveyor produces an “Award” which details the works proposed and a schedule of condition, consisting of photos, of the neighbour’s house.
- Surveyors’ rates vary between ₤ 150.00 and ₤ 200.00 per hour and a party wall award and property surveyor costs roughly ₤ 1000.00.
- Some designers are also able to function as surveyors.
iii) Each owner designates their own surveyor. Nevertheless, this is pricey for the house owner who is responsible for the expenses of their neighbour’s property surveyor in addition to their own.
It is important that all these alternatives readily available to the neighbour, are discussed clearly in the notice.
Maintaining great relationships with your neighbours.
- Before publishing a Party Wall notice through your neighbour’s letterbox, which can appear challenging, have a friendly chat initially.
- A shared cup of tea promotes good will and eases fears. It is an opportunity to show sketches and explain the planned works. It is worthwhile including that an official notification will be sent later on.
- It is reasonable for your neighbour to request the contact information of your property surveyor and/or structure company for more info and reassurance.
Typical mistakes.
i) not offering sufficient notice.
If you live in a terraced home, neighbours on both sides might be impacted depending on the works. A homeowner living next to flats, might need to serve notice on a number of various individuals.
iii) not explaining the proposed work exactly enough or not consisting of adequate details. Notifications about excavations, for example, require to consist of complete structural information.
iv) not using the requirement, or wrong type of notification. The type of notification for excavating foundations is different from a party wall.
One structure task might require more than one type of notice served on each impacted neighbour.
Timeline.
2 months and one day later on: building works can begin, assuming the party wall award has been concurred.
One year and one day later: constructing works should have begun.
Find a party wall surveyor.
Use our free tool to discover a local party wall surveyor and compare quotes.
When do you require a party wall notice or party wall agreement (technically called a party wall award)? And, if you require one, how to find a party wall surveyor.
It is rewarding including that an official notification will be sent out later on.
If you live in a terraced home, neighbours on both sides might be affected depending on the works. A homeowner living next to flats, may need to serve notification on a number of various individuals.
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Learn More about Party Wall
A party wall (occasionally parti-wall or parting wall, also known as common wall or as a demising wall) is a dividing partition between two adjoining buildings that is shared by the occupants of each residence or business. Typically, the builder lays the wall along a property line dividing two terraced houses, so that one half of the wall’s thickness lies on each side. This type of wall is usually structural. Party walls can also be formed by two abutting walls built at different times. The term can be also used to describe a division between separate units within a multi-unit apartment complex. Very often the wall in this case is non-structural but designed to meet established criteria for sound and/or fire protection, i.e. a firewall.
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