As home extension specialists, we are very familiar with the party wall process. This part of the home extension process can seem a bit over-whelming at first as there are lots of different outcomes that can materialise. We support you and ensure that you have everything you need to navigate this part of the design and build journey. While we cannot manage party wall matters, we have a fantastic recommended surveyor who can assist you. 

Why do I need a party wall specialist? 

You are required by law to serve your relevant neighbours with notice(s), explaining the scope of works you are intending to undertake and to offer them with opportunity to respond. 

We are the architect and designers, which means that it would be a conflict of interest to represent you when it comes to party wall matters. In addition to that, the party wall process is very technical and requires specialist advice and management. 

Where and when do I start?

As a starting point, it’s important you have an excellent party wall surveyor. We have a fantastic recommended surveyor who can advise you and give you a breakdown of the potential fees and requirements prior to commitment of their services. Here at Home Tales, we have three stages to our design process: (1) architectural design (2) planning permission and (3) the building regulations pack. We recommend getting your architectural design finalised and concluded prior to approaching party wall matters. The reason for this is because your design will influence who you need to serve notice(s) too and what type of notice(s) will need served. There are lots of different types which depend on the scope of works involved. In some cases you need to serve notice(s) to both neighbours either side, and in some cases it’s just one side. Once we have a final design confirmed, our recommended surveyor can confirm exactly what needs served and to whom. At this stage you can commit to their services and they can serve relevant notice(s) on your behalf. Party wall surveyors do charge to serve notice(s) and the cost is usually around £100-350 per notifiable owner. Our recommended surveyor serves notice(s) for our clients free of charge, so that part of the process is no cost to you. 

What happens after notice(s) are served? 

Once notice(s) are served, your neighbours are presented with 4 options. It’s important the options are displayed clearly so your neighbours don’t get confused and select a higher cost option as a mistake. Ultimately you (as the homeowner) are liable for the costs incurred. The options are as follows:

1. Consent with no further work involved

Cost: Just the cost of the Notice

•  Consent subject to a Schedule of Condition 

Cost of Notice + Schedule of Condition

• Dissent and agree to have your surveyor act on their behalf

Cost of Notice + full award

• Dissent and appoint their own surveyor

Cost of Notice + full award. In this case you will need to cover the adjoining owners

chosen PW surveyor fee as well as your own surveyor.

How much will this cost me?

Typical surveyors in London will charge £500 – £600 for a Schedule of Condition, and £700 – £1200 for a full award. Costs can vary heavily depending on who you use. It is very important to serve notice(s) correctly from the out-set, because errors can cause delays for your build which can be expensive.

Can my neighbours stop me from building? 

No they cannot stop you from building. They can select the options which incur you a higher cost, and they can also request additional information which might cost you more. For example, some neighbours might request a method statement or a checking engineer. It is in the minority of cases that this happens but it’s important you are aware of every eventuality. 

What happens if I live in a flat?

Flats do make the party wall process more complex as it tends to increase how many people you need to notify of the works. If you were undertaking a wraparound ground floor extension on a mid-terrace flat, it’s very likely you will need to notify everyone above you, plus both adjoining properties. 

Is Party Wall the same as planning permission? 

No party wall is entirely different from planning permission and you still need to seek formal approval for exterior works from your local council. We can help with that! We include planning permission and/or permitted development within our design bundle. 

As extension specialists, we are here to support you throughout the entire design and build process. Even though party wall sits separately to our scope of services, we still advise and support throughout the process. If you want to discuss your project in more detail get in touch with our team today on 0207 043 2378 or email hello@hometales.co.uk. You can also book a free consultation via our live diary here.