Love Thy Neighbour
Over the years we’ve dealt with a lot of Party Wall Awards where building owners have dissented to a notice served by their neighbour in the past, and used the most expensive party wall surveyor they could fine. So when it came time to think about their own extension plans and serve their own notices, it was no surprise (to us at least) that their neighbours took a similar course of action. This kind of reaction to your neighbour’s planned works can often sour relationships, and mean they harbour bad feelings – leading to unnecessary expense for both parties.
If you’re served a party wall notice, we suggest you think carefully about what the future intentions for your home might be, and how you would like to be treated if you were in your neighbour’s position. It really is a ‘do unto others’ scenario.
It’s also worth considering what exactly you want to achieve by dissenting. For example, if you’re worried about potential damage to your property, you could ask your neighbour to instruct a surveyor to carry out a Photographic Schedule of Condition providing evidence should damage occur to your property.
Of course, you have every right to dissent to a party wall notice if you genuinely have a dispute about the works. We just ask that you think carefully about it beforehand. If you accommodate your neighbours request, they are more likely to do the same in the future.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Most problems in life can be solved with proper communication, and this is no exception. We’ve found the most cost-effective way to save money on party wall works is to talk to your neighbour. Start a conversation with them about your works before you’ve even gained planning permission, so that they know what’s going on from the start, and you can head off any concerns. This is the best way to get them on side and save yourself a lot of hassle.
A simple, informal chat can go a long way to smoothing out your party wall process. Invite them over for coffee, show them your plans and listen to their concerns. You may find that you can address any concerns they have without needing to go through a party wall Award, and your relationship will be better for it.
Appoint a Surveyor
We know it can be really tempting to use one of the free templates from the internet to handle the party wall process yourself, especially if you want to save some money. But in our experience, the notices served are rarely correct, and often lead to bigger problems down the line. In some cases, they can even be invalid, achieving nothing more than wasting your time and having your project fall behind.
So while it may cost more than the template, we always recommend you instruct a professional and experienced surveyor to handle notices for you. We find that notices prepared and presented by a surveyor result in notices that are right first time, neighbours who are happier to consent to the works, or are happy to use your surveyor as the agreed surveyor in the event of dispute. Providing a professional notice shows that you’re fully invested in your obligations, and can go a long way towards building trust with your neighbour.
Offer to pay for a Photographic Schedule of Condition
If you’re using a surveyor to issue notices on your behalf, then they should include a covering letter that explains the party wall process. This is important, as many people haven’t dealt with party wall notices before. In this letter you can offer to do what’s called a ‘photographic schedule of condition’, which protects your neighbour from any damage caused by your works. It won’t stop damage from happening, but the schedule will record the condition of their property so that any damage can be easily proven, and you can repair it quickly. It’s a reassurance to your neighbours that you’re protecting their interest, and it protects you from spurious claims too. Generally speaking, the cost of this will be much lower than having to appoint a surveyor (or maybe two) to deal with a party wall dispute.
Speak to an Expert
Finally, don’t try to go it alone! Speak to an expert surveyor who is part of a professional body, so you know they’re experienced in doing this kind of work. An experienced party wall surveyor who acts ethically will be able to save you time and money, so it’s important to check out reviews and do your research before you appoint anyone.
At Harrison Clarke, our surveyors are regulated by the RICS (the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), and we know the duty of care we have to the communities we work in. Many of our surveyors are also members of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors, meaning they have the most up-to-date knowledge on party wall matters. We’ve worked with a lot of clients on party wall matters, so we understand how frustrating it can be to finally get planning permission only to find there’s another hurdle to jump. But it’s our job to make this process as cost-effective and stress-free as possible. If you’d like to know more, or need some help about party wall matters, get in touch with the team at Harrison Clarke today.
For more expert advice on party wall matters, check out our range of informative videos on our website or YouTube channel. Harrison Clarke Chartered Surveyors is here to guide you every step of the way!
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