Why do I need a party wall surveyor in Haringey, London?
The London borough of Haringey has plenty to offer homeowners. Famed for being the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and the sports and entertainment hub Alexandra Palace, it’s a place where people enjoy living.
If you’re a Haringey homeowner who wants to enhance or expand your space to make it your forever home, you may have encountered the term “party wall surveyor” and have thought about appointing one.
In this post, we’re going to explain why party wall surveyors are a useful addition to your team and what they can bring to your project, and also when the Party Wall Act 1996 legally requires that you serve notice on any affected neighbours.
What is a party wall?
A party wall is a wall that is shared between two separate properties — for example, a wall dividing terraced or semi-detached houses or flats.
The Party Wall Act 1996 is legislation that sets out a homeowner’s responsibilities and rights relating to their party wall. This includes procedures you must follow if you are undertaking building work on your house.
The Party Wall Act 1996 concerns party walls, and also excavations such as foundation excavations, that are due to take place within certain distances of neighbouring buildings or garden walls.
The relevant distance is either 3 metres or 6 metres, and this depends on the type of excavations/foundations that you are proposing to carry out.
Here, you must serve the neighbour with whom you share the wall a party wall notice, which informs them of any work you plan to do involving or near the party wall. This same process also applies to proposed excavations or foundations if they are within the above mentioned distances of your neighbour's property.
What is a party wall surveyor, and what do they do?
A party wall surveyor can help you through the process of issuing a party wall notice and the subsequent processes that you may need to work through.
If your neighbour agrees to the work you propose, you may not need to take any more action.
However, if they require you to undertake additional works or conditions, then you will need to have a party wall agreement produced by a party wall surveyor. This is a set of conditions and expectations about the work, and satisfies the various legal requirements of the Party Wall Act 1996.
A party wall surveyor can use their expertise to create a comprehensive party wall agreement. It should include details about the condition of your neighbour’s property to provide clarity if they claim at a later point that your work has damaged their property.
Your party wall surveyor can also set out your access rights to your neighbour’s property, which you may need for some building projects.
In short, a party wall surveyor’s role is to offer their expert advice on any issues surrounding your party wall. They will also help you through the whole process of issuing the party wall notice and party wall agreement or dispute resolution process, if necessary.
Following the proper procedures of the Party Wall Act 1996 legislation will ensure that you are following your legal duties, and ensure that your works are compliant, and avoids the risk of damaging your neighbour's property, allows your project to run smoothly, and avoids the cost and stress of a personal dispute with your neighbours.
Why would I need a party wall surveyor in Haringey, London?
A party wall surveyor is an invaluable member of your building project team.
They have a comprehensive understanding of the Party Wall Act 1996, its requirements and timeframes, which means they are in the best position to help you progress your building work.
If the act is not followed exactly, you could risk being prosecuted or having your project stopped by an injunction. So it makes sense to engage an expert in the first instance.
Your party wall surveyor will already have worked on many projects involving party walls, so they will be familiar with the procedures and processes to be followed.
They can also act as a mediator if your neighbour has issues with your proposals, diffusing tension and working with both parties to find a good solution.
What’s the best way to find a party wall surveyor in Haringey, London?
If you’re looking for a party wall surveyor in Haringey, London, it’s best to find an expert who is familiar with your area and the types of building works in your locality.
A family-run firm with an excellent track record makes a good choice — this accurately describes Humphreys & Sons, architects and chartered surveyors covering London and Essex, including Haringey.
We offer party wall surveying services along with a range of other useful services that can feed into your project, including architecture, planning permission issues and project management.
Get in touch with our team to discover how we can help ensure your project is carried out within the legal requirements of the Party Wall Act and completed to your satisfaction.
Related Blogs
