What is a party wall?
The simplest explanation of a party wall is that it is a wall that separates two or more properties of different owners. In other words, if more than one property shares the same wall as a boundary for their premises, then it can be considered as a party wall.
The picket or timber fences are not party walls. A solid brick or stone wall can only be classified as a party wall. The party wall can or cannot be a part of the building structure. Also, if the wall is entirely on one person’s property and is also used by the neighbors, it could be classified as a party wall.
What is a party wall agreement?
Party walls are shared structures, so any repair or renovation work on a party wall has a slightly different procedure than the normal way. If a party wall is damaged, both the parties using it face problems, so there can be an issue when it comes to paying for the repairing of the wall.
For this purpose, you need a party wall surveyor north london. A party wall agreement is for the sole purpose of making the complete repair or renovation process more comfortable for you, all the while protecting the neighbors’ interests. It contains all the work details, including the schedule, the costs, and the whole plan. If you and your neighbors share the cost, then how much everyone has to pay can be included in the agreement.
Can party wall access be refused?
According to the party wall agreement surveyor, the party wall access can be refused in some instances. The conditions need to be under the Party Wall Act. There are many technicalities involved in the act, but the gist of it is that if any work is undertaken by one party on the wall that directly impacts or harms the other one, an agreement needs to be drawn.
Similarly, if your neighbor does something on the wall, causing problems for you or some installation on your property that could be harmed by allowing any work on the wall, you can refuse access to the party wall. But again, the specifics of the circumstances have to be under the Party Wall Act. This is why it is essential to draw up a party wall agreement and specify all the details.
However, if your party wall access refusal is in breach of the Party Wall Act, then your neighbor is free to take legal assistance. So if you want to refuse access to the party wall, then the right thing to do is to take the help of a party wall surveyor who can advise you if the refusal is within the legal bounds or not.
How much does a party wall agreement cost?
Before agreeing, the vital thing you need to know is how much a party wall surveyor cost. The cost of drawing up a party wall agreement depends upon the type of work that will be performed on it. So you need a party wall surveyor to draw up the agreement.
The cost of a party wall agreement is mostly the party wall surveyor’s rate and the charge for the time needed for putting the awards in place. The general rate of most of the party wall surveyors is £120-£250 per hour. So the total final cost will depend upon the time spent on the survey.
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