Our party wall surveyors in Kent can handle disputes and address issues outlined in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We cater to both the party proposing the works (the building owner) and the party responding to the works (the adjoining owner).
You’ll require a party wall surveyor in Kent if you wish to:
There are three primary areas where the building owner must serve a notice to adjoining owners in Kent.
Contact us today for a free consultation and quote to understand how we can assist.
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Kent please contact us today.
Whether you’re the building owner or the adjoining owner, our adept Kent party wall surveyors are here to support you.
We assist building owners in preparing notices, completing a Schedule of Condition, and resolving disputes with neighbours.
If your planned work falls under the Party Wall Act, you must notify the affected parties. Your neighbour then has three response options:
Ideally, you’d want your neighbour to choose one of the first two options, as building owners are responsible for the surveyor’s reasonable fees.
By hiring an expert party wall surveyor like Peter Barry, we can increase the likelihood of a smooth process with expert advice and technical knowledge.
We recommend offering to pay for a Schedule of Condition as part of your Notice.
This document records the property’s condition, which can protect you from damage claims during or after work.
Offering to pay can also show goodwill to your neighbour and increase the chance of consent.
If your Kent neighbour is proposing works that can affect your property, you have three response options:
Even if you consent, we suggest obtaining a Schedule of Condition from an expert party wall surveyor like Peter Barry.
It provides a record of your property’s condition, which can help identify new damage and substantiate your damage claims.
If a party wall notice is dissented to, a dispute arises per the Party Wall Act.
Appointed party wall surveyors must impartially resolve the dispute, balancing the interests of all parties involved.
Once the dispute is resolved, a Party Wall Award is created, outlining agreed terms and authorising the proposed work to continue.
Obligations may include minimising the risk of damage and avoiding unnecessary inconvenience for affected neighbours.
As per the Party Wall Act, the party proposing the works must cover the surveyor’s reasonable fees.
These fees will depend on the scope of the project, with varying costs depending on what you’ll need.
Our common fees include:
Costs may vary in case of a party wall dispute, with adjoining owners charged hourly.
However, the Party Wall Act includes mechanisms to keep these fees reasonable.
Telephone: 01732 441 536
Email: surveying@peterbarry.co.uk
If you require free advice or a quote in relation to a residential surveying matter in Kent please contact us today.
Leading London-based party wall specialists with a 35+ year history.
Breadth & depth of expertise provided by experienced team of RICS surveyors.
Straight forward and honest professional, impartial advice.
Up-to-date understanding of best practice and case law through training and CPD.
Members of relevant governing bodies – RICS, FPWS, P&T.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 came into force on 1st July 1997 and is now enshrined in English law. It stipulates the rights and responsibilities that must be observed for anyone planning to work falling within its scope. Read more about the Act here.
For surveyors who undertake this form of work day in day out, it can be easy to assume that there is good general understanding as to what a party wall award includes and entails. That assumption is regularly proven wrong when our team is speaking to potential clients and detailing the 3 response options to the notices. Learn about party wall agreements here.
Completing the party wall awards is often the last part of the jigsaw required to allow work to commence on site and the process which leads up to that point can be delayed for any number of reasons; from technical queries relating to the proposed works to the appointed surveyors’ holiday arrangements. It’s therefore advisable to get started as soon as possible but when is the perfect time to start the process by serving notice?
It is not uncommon to discover that your neighbour has gone ahead with building works that technically fall under party wall legislation. Indeed, at Peter Barry Surveyors, we are used to getting two or three phone calls a week from Adjoining Owners whose neighbours are carrying out qualifying works without having served notice as legally required by the Party Wall Act. Click here to learn what to do when your neighbour ignores the Party Wall Act.
From our office in Sevenoaks, Peter Barry Chartered Surveyors cover popular locations across Kent, including: