Grove Millican

Party Walls

Grove Millican has acquired extensive experience in the field of Party Wall Disputes and similar neighbourly matters since the introduction of The Party Wall etc Act 1996. This experience enables us to provide reliable expert advice in this complex area and help resolve party wall disputes in the most cost effective way.

The Party Wall etc Act 1996 introduced a procedure that homeowners and building owners are legally obliged to follow when carrying out certain building works to shared walls (party walls) or close to adjacent buildings. For example:

• Extensions
• Loft conversions
• Alterations and some internal refurbishment
• Re-roofing
• Excavating for foundations within 3m or 6m of neighbouring properties.
• Underpinning

The Act was introduced to help minimise disputes by ensuring that neighbours ("Adjoining Owners") are notified in advance of intended work, and given the opportunity to ask a Party Wall Surveyor to check proposals and determine the time and way in which work is carried out. In nearly all cases the neighbour is not liable for the payment of any fees or charges arising from this process.

For the "Building Owner" carrying out the proposed works, the benefit gained from the early involvement of a Party Wall Surveyor includes a reduction in the likelihood of unreasonable objections from neighbours delaying the progress of their building project, the avoidance of additional unjustified cost and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are correctly complying with the relevant legal obligations.

We regularly act for both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners and increasingly we are appointed as "Agreed Surveyor" to act for both property owners, providing an impartial solution should problems arise.

Grove Millican are members of the Pyramus & Thisbe Club, the leading organisation for professionals specialising in party wall matters. All our surveyors are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and act strictly in accordance with their guidelines.

Why not contact us for a free telephone consultation upon the implications of The Party Wall etc Act 1996? We provide initial advice to building owners contemplating carrying out building works, or for adjoining owners who have received a notice from their neighbours, on a no obligation basis. Our aim is to help protect your interest in the most cost effective and professional manner possible and therefore we ensure our charges remain highly competitive.

Grove Millican Party Wall Surveyors will provide the necessary expert advice to protect you from the risk of costly legal action, delays to your project or damage to your property from adjacent building works.