The term “surveyor” is a term used in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 to mean any person who isn’t a party to the workings. This means that there is no chance of an owner acting on behalf of themselves , but any other person is allowed to make an appointment. This includes anyone who is responsible for overseeing the work on behalf of the owner whether it’s a an architect or surveyor. The person who is chosen must possess a solid understanding of construction, and be knowledgeable in the procedures for party walls and, ideally, have a relevant certification. The most popular options are structural engineers and building surveyors.

Surveyors of the party wall (or”the “Agreed Surveyor” in the event that both owners agree in one appointment) will draft an agreement called”a “party wall agreement” (sometimes called”party wall agreement” or “party wall agreement”). This document defines the rights of the owners and obligations in relation to the manner in which work is to be conducted and also covers issues like the working times, accessibility to the adjoining landowner’s property for the construction and any safeguards that are required.

If you suspect that your neighbour is not likely to be averse to the proposed work, it’s a good idea to involve a party wall surveyor London in the early stages. The process begins with serving of notice (although the author suggests having a conversation with your neighbour before the notice arrives at their doors can help ease the process in the future). While templates for notices are readily available , it’s important to keep in mind that if they fail to include all the required details, or are not properly distributed, they will be invalid.

The longest-running job that a surveyor of the party wall prior to the beginning of the work in preparation is the creation of a condition report of the property owned by the adjoining owner. It is crucial to do this in a timely manner so that any future damage can be identified easily and explained in the same manner to the dilapidations plan). In the event that there is a survey with two people involved, this document is prepared by the surveyor of the building owner who sends a copy to the owner’s adjoining surveyor to get their approval.

One important thing to consider is that when the surveyor is appointed under the Act regardless of whether they are the Agreed Surveyor, or by the owner or both the surveyor is required to perform their duties in an independent way. Many owners find this aspect of the Act difficult to comprehend since they chose the surveyor, therefore why should he not may not be able to argue their side however it must be kept in mind that surveyors are appointed to settle disputes, and this is nearly impossible if the owners were at the helm controlling the process. It is tempting for a property owner to seek to rid themselves of an uncompromising surveyor however under the Act it isn’t an option. Once the Party Wall Surveyor is appointed, the appointment is not revoked until the person who appointed him declares his inability to act or dies.

Then we get to the fees. Under normal circumstances they are paid by the owner of the building. It’s difficult to speak in numbers as they can vary greatly between jobs as well as from surveyor to surveyor. Surveyors chosen by the owner of the building usually offer a fixed price, whereas the surveyor for the adjoining owner will be charged by the hours (£200 is the current standard in London) with an option for contingencies for further visits. The final cost is agreed upon and added to the award just before it is handed out. The fees charged by adjoining owner’s surveyors in London vary between £900 and £1,750 for basic task, rising to £1,750 for awards that cover more intricate work, such as an upgrade of the basement.