To the lay person, a party wall (PW) is where to find the drinks cabinet at a party. In fact, the term describes a physical boundary marking the property lines that separate two distinct lots. The 1997 Party Wall Act was passed in order to ensure that the interest of the owner of the adjacent property are adequately represented. A party wall surveyor is someone who is thoroughly versed in the implications of the Act and who, as a disinterested party, represents the interests of the neighbor on the adjoining side of the fence. When a land owner wishes to make alterations to his home that involve the party wall, he must first submit a Party Wall Notice (PRN) to the owner of the adjoining party. It is a courtesy to speak to the neighbor first to alert him that the PRN is on its way.There are three types of PRN.
The first is a Party Structure Notice. These notices cover work that is to be carried out on the wall itself. It should include the name and address of the owner of the building, details about the work to be carried out and the date on which work is due to commence. The second type of PRN is a Notice of Adjacent Excavation and the third is a Line of Junction Notice, indicating that a new wall is planned for construction either adjacent to or astride the boundary between the two properties. The adjoining property owner has a total of 14 days (two weeks) in which to voice his consent for the proposed construction. In the absence of formal consent for the project to proceed, it will be considered to be in dispute. Being in dispute does not mean that the adjoining property owner doesn\'t like his neighbor and wants to cause trouble for him. All it means is that he wants to ensure his interests are looked after by a neutral party who is fully knowledgeable of the implications of the 1997 Act. After the 14 days have elapsed, the receiving neighbor will receive a follow-up contact instructing him to appoint a party wall surveyor within ten days or else one will be appointed for him. Each party to the agreement appoints a surveyor. Once these appointment are confirmed, the post holders will draft a Party Wall Agreement (PWA). This document usually includes a set of guidelines as to how the proposed work should progress, a schedule of condition of the adjoining property and a set of detailed drawings of the work to be carried out. The Agreement will contain, as a minimum, the full contact details of the two property owners as well as their surveyors, a brief summary of the proposed work and the hours of the day during which the actual construction is projected to be performed. There will also be provisions for insurance and indemnity. Finally, the Agreement will specify a deadline by which the proposed alterations are expected to be completed. Once the PWA has been agreed, it is \'published\'. This means that signed copies are witnessed and distributed to both owners and to the building contractor.
The first is a Party Structure Notice. These notices cover work that is to be carried out on the wall itself. It should include the name and address of the owner of the building, details about the work to be carried out and the date on which work is due to commence. The second type of PRN is a Notice of Adjacent Excavation and the third is a Line of Junction Notice, indicating that a new wall is planned for construction either adjacent to or astride the boundary between the two properties. The adjoining property owner has a total of 14 days (two weeks) in which to voice his consent for the proposed construction. In the absence of formal consent for the project to proceed, it will be considered to be in dispute. Being in dispute does not mean that the adjoining property owner doesn\'t like his neighbor and wants to cause trouble for him. All it means is that he wants to ensure his interests are looked after by a neutral party who is fully knowledgeable of the implications of the 1997 Act. After the 14 days have elapsed, the receiving neighbor will receive a follow-up contact instructing him to appoint a party wall surveyor within ten days or else one will be appointed for him. Each party to the agreement appoints a surveyor. Once these appointment are confirmed, the post holders will draft a Party Wall Agreement (PWA). This document usually includes a set of guidelines as to how the proposed work should progress, a schedule of condition of the adjoining property and a set of detailed drawings of the work to be carried out. The Agreement will contain, as a minimum, the full contact details of the two property owners as well as their surveyors, a brief summary of the proposed work and the hours of the day during which the actual construction is projected to be performed. There will also be provisions for insurance and indemnity. Finally, the Agreement will specify a deadline by which the proposed alterations are expected to be completed. Once the PWA has been agreed, it is \'published\'. This means that signed copies are witnessed and distributed to both owners and to the building contractor.
By William Firth, About the Author:
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