The purpose of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is to enable works to proceed and progress properly and is certainly not meant to hinder or cause a stumbling block in any way. If the Act is properly used it should take away the need to resolve matters through the courts if something goes wrong. Before the introduction of the Act the only redress for action was at Common Law, which is still applicable if the Act is not invoked. The solution that the Act provides is to enable works to be undertaken easily for the Building Owner and with little inconvenience for the Adjoining Owner. Its works by each building owner appointing their own surveyor or by both building owners appointing one surveyor called the Agreed Surveyor to act impartially to resolve any dispute between the Owners.
