Party Walls

Collier Stevens are experienced RICS-chartered surveyors, specialising in party wall matters in London and Kent. We provide clear, practical advice and regulated expertise to building owners and neighbours alike. From party wall notices to awards, our team ensures every step complies with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

Read on to see how our party wall surveyors in London and party wall surveyors in Kent can help with all party wall matters, and contact us for a free party wall quote – or if you prefer to talk, call us on 020 8295 1200 in London or 01303 239000 in Kent.

Do I Need a Party Wall Surveyor?

Collier Stevens is asked this question a lot. We are also asked:

  • What is a party wall survey?
  • Why do I need a party wall survey?
  • When do I need a party wall survey?
  • What is a party wall notice?
  • What Party Wall Acts do I need to know about?

We’re here to clearly guide you through all of these questions, so you know exactly what the Party Wall Act requires and when you may need professional support – whether you need party wall surveyors in London or a party wall surveyor in Kent.

What a Party Wall Surveyor Actually Does

Our work isn’t about carrying our party wall surveys, and there isn’t actually a party wall survey undertaken. Whilst we are party wall surveyors, our work involves ensuring that legislation (The Party Wall etc Act) is followed by people undertaking work on a party wall. We help people understand what a party wall is and what they need to do to advise their neighbours of work being planned. Our party wall surveyors can also be called in to help when there is a dispute over party wall work.

Need Party Wall Advice? Why Not Book Your FREE 5 Minute Consultation

When the Party Wall Act Applies

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (“the Act”) came into force in 1997 throughout England and Wales. If you are planning building work, it obligates you to formally notify and receive the consent of your neighbours if the job includes:

  • work on an existing wall or structure shared with another property (section 2 of the Act)
  • building a free-standing wall on the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1 of the Act)
  • building a party wall astride the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1 of the Act)
  • excavating near an adjacent building (section 6 of the Act)

Your Responsibilities Under the Act

As crucial as Planning Consent & Building Regulation Approval, it is your responsibility, not the Local Authority’s, to determine whether that work falls within the Act and whether you need a Party Wall Agreement, properly known as a ‘Party Wall Award‘.

If it does, you must correctly notify and have received the written consent of all affected neighbours. A quick word over the garden fence is not satisfactory.

Contact us for advice, or a free, no-obligation quote – or if you prefer to talk, call us on 020 8295 1200 in London or 01303 239000 in Kent.

Professional Guidance for all Party Wall matters

You can download suitable Party Wall forms and templates, or you may prefer to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor experienced in Party Wall matters.

Collier Stevens are professional and experienced Party Wall Surveyors in Kent and London.  Our party wall surveyors are all RICS chartered and accredited, and because we are Chartered Surveyors, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors regulates our service and practice.

If you are a building owner wishing to undertake work that affects a party wall, or you are a neighbour affected by work on a party wall, we can help you.

Our party wall case studies

Works Adjacent to a Flank Wall Requiring a Party Wall Award

Party Wall Matters – Building Work in Kent

We acted as Building Owner’s Surveyor, for a complicated scheme of demolition and reconstruction of a neighbouring property.

Building Owner’s Surveyor – Complex Adjacent Building Work in Kent

Collier Stevens were the Building Owner’s Surveyor, for a complicated scheme of demolition and reconstruction of a neighbouring property requiring temporary works and the introduction of a substantial structural steel frame and columns immediately adjacent to a neighbouring property, as obliged by the Party Walls Act.

For more information on how we can help you with party walls in Kent, please get in touch.

building work requiring party wall agreement

Party Wall Matters – Residential Redevelopment in London

This project demonstrates our role in resolving a party wall dispute where significant structural damage was caused to a neighbouring property because of an error in construction.

Building Owner’s Surveyor – Residential Redevelopment, London

Collier Stevens acted as Building Owner’s Surveyor for a scheme in London with multiple Adjoining Owners. It required demolition and extensive residential redevelopment.

It was notable for significant structural damage being caused to a neighbouring property because of an error in construction. The entire remedial work and settlement which ran well into six figures was resolved to all parties’ satisfaction within the provisions of the Party Wall Act and without recourse to lawyers.

To see how we can help with your own party wall matters, get in touch with our property surveyors in London.

Contact Collier Stevens with any party wall query, or book your free, no obligation quote.

Building Owners  (doing the work)

Are you:

  • Working on an existing wall or structure shared with another property?
  • Building a free-standing wall or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary line?
  • Excavating near a neighbouring building?

If you are intending to carry out building work which involves any of the above, you must serve Party Wall Notices to all affected neighbours to avoid the risk of legal action being taken against you for proceeding with work unlawfully. We can issue correctly drafted notices on your behalf.

Our team can prepare and serve valid Party Wall Notices, liaise with neighbours on your behalf, and draft professionally compliant Party Wall Awards, removing the burden and risk from your project.

Adjoining Neighbours (next door to the work)

If you receive a party wall notice saying that your neighbour intends to do work that includes:

  • Work on an existing wall or structure shared with another property
  • Building a free-standing wall or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary line
  • Excavating near a neighbouring building

Then, you must respond correctly to avoid prejudicing your position. We will ensure that you are adequately protected by correcting responding to a party wall notice on your behalf, and dissenting to the work, if that is what you want to do.

If you have not received a notice, the works may be progressing unlawfully, and we can advise you on the correct course of action. That may include stopping the work until the correct agreements are in place, or in some cases, seeking an injunction.

Contact us for more information and to get a free, no-obligation quote , or if you prefer to talk, call us on 020 8295 1200 in London or 01303 239000 in Kent.

Why choose Collier Stevens for your Party Wall Matters?

Collier Stevens are RICS-qualified Party Wall Surveyors in London and Kent, specialising in Notices, Awards and dispute resolution. Offering impartial guidance, transparent fees and expert support for projects of all sizes, they simplify Party Wall compliance and protect both building owners and neighbours, delivering confidence, clarity and peace of mind at every stage.

Need Party Wall Advice? Why Not Book Your FREE 5 Minute Consultation