Things You Need to Know About Party Wall Surveyors in Essex

Are you a property owner and want to do some major work on your home? If so, then you need to make sure you know about all of the various legal aspects surrounding such projects and any impact that they may have on neighbouring properties. One of the various legal aspects, you need to follow is the party wall agreement, and all it entails. This is crucial, especially in areas like Essex, where there are shared walls between properties.

To help you navigate the sometimes-murky waters of party wall agreements and other legal aspects that may impact your project, this blog post will explore the Party Wall Act 1996, the essence of working with a party wall surveyor in Essex, the services they offer, and other things.

Understanding The Party Wall 1996 and its Implications

The Party Wall Act 1996 is one of the pieces of legislation that set out the responsibilities and rights of building owners concerning shared or party walls, and other relevant building projects. This legislation obliges anyone undertaking certain kinds of building works, such as work affecting a shared wall, to provide neighbours with a formal wall notice.

Other works that require serving of such notice include foundation works within a specific distance from a neighbour’s structure or building. If as a building owner, you don’t adhere to the legal requirements of the legislation, you risk being prosecuted, and a court injunction could stop the execution of your building project.

How to fulfil the requirements of The Party Wall Act 1996?

As per the legislation, if you plan to carry out any notifiable works, you have to serve all your affected neighbours with a formal wall notice. You must do this in good time before the commencement of the work. Also, for the party wall notice to be legally valid, it must strictly adhere to the requirements and timeframes specified in The Party Wall Act 1996.

Based on your neighbour’s responses to the notice, you may require to hire a party wall surveyor in Essex to help prepare a party wall award, also known as a party wall agreement, between you and the neighbour. The party wall award contains several items, but the most crucial one is a detailed report on the condition of your neighbour’s property before the commencement of the works. In addition, the agreement can also give you access rights to your neighbour’s property, as this may be necessary for the execution of certain kinds of work.

Why should you hire party wall surveyor Essex?

Because the issues surrounding party walls can be complex, you should consider hiring a party wall surveyor in Essex to help you handle them, and oversee the communication between you and your neighbours. This is because they are qualified professionals well-versed in resolving disputes and overseeing issues between adjacent buildings.

Here are some reasons you need to hire a party wall surveyor in Essex:

• To guide you so you comply with the law: Qualified professionals have a good grasp of the legal framework for matters to do with party walls in England and Wales.
• They offer expert advice: You need to know about your rights and responsibilities, get help to draft the relevant party wall notice, and obtain crucial insights on potential issues likely to arise during the intended works.
• They act as mediators and help resolve disputes: A party wall surveyor in Essex can act as an impartial third party if disputes arise between you and your neighbour in connection with party wall issues. They evaluate the issues, mediate between those involved, and work to get a mutually agreeable solution. As such, they help avoid further conflicts or potential legal proceedings.

Conclusion

You should consider hiring a party wall surveyor in Essex if you plan to carry out any construction work that could affect neighbouring properties. Given they understand The Party Wall Act 1996 and have expertise and experience in party wall matters, they can help you comply with the law, provide expert advice and services like drafting the party wall award, and prevent disputes or help resolve any dispute that may arise.