The Party Wall Agreement comes under the Party Wall Act, which covers the shared walls between terraced houses and semi-detached houses. It also covers structures like the floors between maisonettes and garden boundary walls. It is important to know exactly what does a party wall refer to. The types of party walls are:
- A wall that is common for two or more owners and is a part of one building
- A floor or a wall partition that separates parts of a building belonging to different owners, for example, flats
- A wall that is common for two or more owners but does not constitute a part of a building, for example, garden walls
- A wall common for two or more owners that separate their buildings
Party Wall Notices
It is always better to plan and start the process of the Party Wall Agreement application as early as possible. Although, many factors can cause delays.
In most of the cases, notices can be served the moment a decision is made to build it. Although, it is advisable that the notices be served two months prior. Excavation is an exception. For excavation, drawings are required to be provided and this falls under the notifiable actions under the Party Wall Act.
How the Disputes are resolved under the Act
Two or more adjoining building owners can present their proposals, and come to an agreement with discussions and by deciding how the work will be carried out. In case a dispute arises or there is no written consent to carry out any changes, the Party Wall Agreement London will provide a surveyor who will serve to settle the dispute.
Types of Adjustments that Do Not Require Notice
Some adjustments or changes are considered minor, according to the Party Wall Act. For these minor changes, serving notice is not necessary. These minor changes are:
- Removing plaster
- Repairing or replacing electrical sockets or wiring
- Drilling wall to install cabinets, shelves, to fix plugs, and the likes
Party Wall Agreement Cost
The Party Wall Agreement Cost depends on what type of project will be carried out in the design of the project. The surveyors’ hourly rate determines the cost and the amount of time which is required to put the awards in places. Usually, the surveyors charge a fixed amount, and the price ranges between £120 – £250 per hour.
Who is the Adjoining Owner and How is he Informed?
An adjoining owner owns the land adjacent to the land, room, or the building of the building owner. It is the responsibility of the owner of the building to inform every land which is connected to theirs. It is better to discuss any plans with the adjoining owners before serving the professional notice.
Right and Duties
The Party Wall Act provides various rights to the owner which they can exercise if they wish to. These rights include:
- Repairs
- Alter the height of the party wall
- Demolishing and rebuilding
- Inserting a damp proof course
- Cutting into the party wall so it can hold the weight of a beam
The duty of an owner is to inform every action to all the adjoining owners before commencing the work in order to prevent misunderstandings further down the line
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