Last week we looked at the kind of work that requires a party wall notice to be served on your neighbour(s). As a reminder these were -
cutting into a wall to take the bearing of a beam, for example for a loft conversion
inserting a damp proof course, even if only to your own side of a party wall
raising a party wall and, if necessary, cutting off any objects preventing this from happening
demolishing and rebuilding a party wall
underpinning a party wall or part of a party wall
weathering the junction of adjoining walls or buildings by cutting a flashing into an adjoining building
excavating foundations within three metres of a neighbour’s structure and lower than its foundations
excavating foundations within six metres of a neighbour’s structure and below a line drawn down at 45° from the bottom of its foundations.
building a new wall on the line of junction (boundary) between two properties.
So, what do you need to do?
If you intend to do any of these things, you must give written notice to your neighbours at least one month for ‘line of junction’ or excavation works or two months before starting any other party wall works.
If there is more than one owner of the neighbouring property, or more than one adjoining property, you must notify all of them,
thus if a tenant or leaseholder occupies the building next door you will need to tell the landlord as well as the occupier.
If you are doing structural work to a party wall, or works affecting a ceiling or floor, you will have to give written notice to any adjoining owners and occupiers living above or below your property.
If possible, talk to your neighbours about the work you want to do before you give them written notice. If you can sort out any potential problems in advance, they may well give you written agreement.
Here at Bluegrass Surveying we can help you serve any notices, prepare schedules of condition (the current condition of the neighbours' property that could be affected) and prepare awards where needed.
