The party wall guide for homeowners

What the Act covers

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies when you work on a wall shared with a neighbour, build on the boundary line, or dig foundations close to a neighbour's building. The government's party walls guidance sets out the detail.

Giving notice

You need to give your neighbours written notice before work starts. For work on a party wall the notice period is two months, and for excavations near their foundations it is one month.

If your neighbour agrees

If your neighbour consents in writing, work can go ahead once the notice period ends. It is still sensible to record the condition of their property first.

If they do not agree

If they dissent, a party wall surveyor, or one for each side, prepares an award setting out how the work will be done. We recommend experienced party wall surveyors.

How we help

We tell you at the consultation whether the Act is likely to apply and plan it into the programme so it does not hold up the build.