Party Wall Surveyors in Bromley

Under the provisions of the Party Wall Act, as a property owner in Bromley, it’s necessary for you to issue a notice before initiating construction activities on an existing shared wall or in proximity to your property’s boundary.

Your neighbours should be given notice if you intend to carry out any of the following:

1). Construction of new walls up to or straddling the junction line.
2). Undertaking works directly on a Party Wall, Party Structure, or Party Fence Wall.
3). Excavating within 3m or 6m to a depth that’s lower than the neighbouring owner’s foundations or structures.

To ensure a smoother process, we advise you to converse with your neighbours before issuing the notice. It’s observed that neighbours who feel consulted are less likely to appoint a separate surveyor immediately.

A Party Wall Notice in Bromley is a formal notification served by the ‘Building Owner’ who plans to initiate the construction work. This notice can be issued by the Building Owner’s Surveyor. The purpose of the Party Wall Notice is to provide the ‘Adjoining Owner’ the opportunity to choose from one of three responses:

1. Consent to the Party Wall Notice.
If the adjoining owner consents, they still retain the protections offered by the Party Wall Act, permitting the building owner to proceed with the planned construction work without the need for further Awards. In such a situation, we strongly advocate for a Schedule of Condition to protect all parties involved.

2. Dissent and Appoint a Party Wall Surveyor to Represent Me.
If the adjoining owner dissents to the Party Wall Notice, they invoke the formalities and protections outlined in the Party Wall Act. Choosing to appoint their own Party Wall Surveyor will necessitate the building owner to also appoint a Party Wall Surveyor. The two selected Party Wall Surveyors will then adhere to the procedures and agree on a Party Wall Award.

3. Dissent and Appoint a Mutually Agreed Party Wall Surveyor.
This option is similar to the second response to the Party Wall Notice. The only difference is that one Party Wall Surveyor impartially represents both parties.

A Party Wall stands astride the boundary of land belonging to two or more owners and either:
– Forms part of a building
– Separates two or more buildings
– or consists of a ‘party fence wall’
A ‘party fence wall’ is not part of a building but stands astride the boundary between land of different owners and is used to separate the land.
Floors or walls between flats are ‘party structures’.

Non-compliance with the Party Wall Act can lead to considerable legal implications, expenses, and delays. As a resident in Bromley, if your neighbour commences construction work and disregards the Party Wall Act, you can take legal steps.

If your neighbour’s non-compliance with the Party Wall Act leads to a dispute, you have the right to pursue legal action against them. Courts typically frown upon any failure to adhere to the statutory obligations of the Party Wall Act.

One of the most impactful outcomes of facing legal action is the financial burden. If a Building Owner has neglected their responsibilities under the Party Wall Act, they are likely to be held accountable for all the costs of the legal action to halt work and resolve the issue, which will likely surpass the cost of complying with the Party Wall Act itself.

Furthermore, the court can issue an injunction to stop any work until the issue is sorted out, resulting in significant delays and monetary losses. Interim injunctions can be granted promptly and cease the works instantly until the procedures stipulated by the Party Wall Act are followed.