Party Wall Services London | Expert RICS Chartered Surveyors – Modrics Surveyors
What is a Party Wall Dispute?
A Party Wall Dispute occurs when someone intends to carry out building work covered by the Party Wall Act 1996 and notifies their adjoining owner of their intention. A dispute arises when the response from the adjoining owner is not an outright consent to the notification.
It’s important to note that a Party Wall Dispute does not involve physical altercations or shouting matches between neighbours. It simply means that the adjoining owner is not happy with the proposed party wall works and does not provide outright consent.
There can be various reasons for dissenting to a Party Wall Notice. For example, a neighbour who operates a recording studio may have concerns about how the proposed works could impact their business. In such cases, the neighbour may choose to dissent to the Notice, allowing a Party Wall Surveyor to handle the timing and manner of the proposed works. However, the Party Wall Surveyor’s jurisdiction is limited to the aspects of the work that fall within the scope of the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
It’s important to understand that dissenting to a Notice alone cannot stop the building works from proceeding. The Party Wall Act is designed to resolve issues between neighbouring parties and enable works to proceed. The Act also ensures that any damage caused by the party wall works to neighbouring properties must be repaired.
Disputes can also arise if works covered by the Party Wall Act commence without serving Notices beforehand or if due process is ignored. Dealing with such situations can be complicated, and it is advisable to seek professional advice before finding oneself in that position. Failure to do so may result in legal proceedings or significant financial and scheduling setbacks.
At Modrics Chartered Surveyors, we are a team of independent and impartial RICS surveyors based in London. We specialise in handling party wall matters. If you have any questions or need advice, please feel free to contact us at 0208 087 2051.
