If your building project involves work on or near a shared boundary wall, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 almost certainly applies. Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood parts of residential construction in London.
When Does the Act Apply?
- Building on or at the boundary line between you and your neighbour
- Cutting into a party wall to insert a beam or remove a chimney breast
- Excavating within 3 metres of a neighbouring building's foundations (or 6 metres on deeper excavations)
The Notice Process
You must serve written notice on your neighbour at least two months before starting work on a party wall, or one month before starting excavation work. Your neighbour then has 14 days to consent or dissent.
If they dissent — or simply don't respond — both sides must appoint a surveyor (or agree to a single 'agreed surveyor') to prepare a Party Wall Award.
What a Structural Engineer Does
Your structural engineer designs the temporary and permanent works that affect party walls — the steel beams, foundations, and underpinning details. These drawings form a core part of the Party Wall Award and give your neighbour's surveyor the evidence they need to consent.
At Bourdon Hill, we routinely liaise with party wall surveyors to ensure our structural designs meet the Act's requirements and keep projects moving.
Need help with your project?
Our engineers are ready to discuss your requirements.
