Party Wall Surveyors London
Harding Chartered Surveyors provide party wall surveyor services across London for building owners and adjoining owners. Whether you are planning a loft conversion, rear extension, basement excavation or structural alteration — or you have received a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour — our team can advise you on the correct process, prepare and serve notices, complete Schedules of Condition and agree Party Wall Awards where required.
Request a free party wall quote today or call 020 3598 6730 for initial advice.
Do I need a Party Wall Surveyor?
If you are searching for a party wall surveyor in London, you may not always need to appoint one immediately.
It usually depends on the type of work proposed, whether the correct Party Wall Notice has been served, and how the adjoining owner responds.
| Situation | Do you usually need a party wall surveyor? |
|---|---|
| Your neighbour consents to a valid notice | Not usually, although a Schedule of Condition may still be sensible. |
| Your neighbour dissents | Yes. A dispute is deemed to have arisen under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. |
| Your neighbour does not respond within 14 days | Usually yes, after the correct follow-up process has been followed. |
| You are excavating within 3 metres and deeper than neighbouring foundations | You may need to serve a Section 6 Notice. |
| You are cutting steel beams into a party wall | Usually yes. Notice is normally required for this type of work. |
| You are building wholly on your own land but near the boundary | Possibly, depending on the works, the distance from neighbouring structures, and excavation depth. |
How Does the Party Wall Act Work?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is the framework used across England and Wales designed to manage and resolve issues around the shared boundary wall of the two properties. The Act has been created to manage and successfully resolve any issues surrounding shared or adjacent structures.
The Party Wall etc. Act applies if you are planning:
- Building work on shared walls (party walls)
- Building work involving shared ‘party structures’ (walls or floors between flats)
- Alterations to garden boundary walls
- Underpinning or excavation work within 3-6 metres of party walls
- Loft conversions that involve changing party walls
- Changing party walls by thickening, raising or inserting a damp-proof course
- Building an extension above a party wall
Extensions and alterations can add significant value and kerb appeal to a property, but any works affecting a party wall may require you to notify your adjoining owners under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Failing to do so can lead to disputes, injunctions and costly delays.
Harding Chartered provide party wall surveyor services in London to guide you through the process of issuing a Part Wall Award and act as your representative. We can prepare Service of Notices, Schedules of Conditions, Party Wall Agreement, Party Wall Awards and Licences to Alter.
Get a free, upfront quote for your party wall matters by filling in the form on this page or contact us on 020 3598 6730.
Party Wall Surveyor London Costs
Most London Party Wall Surveyors will charge a fixed hourly rate for all party wall related matters, usually between £150-£270. The price you pay depends on the time it takes to carry out the work relating to the party wall survey. On average, the cost is around £1500.
There are a variety of additional factors that will affect costs involved:
- Size of the property
- Quality and completeness of architectural designs
- The complexity of the project
- Number of surveyors needed
- The level of risk of damage to the neighbouring property
- Any negotiation needed
- Where you live
It’s important to know that the person issuing the party wall notice (the building owner) will be liable for fees if the adjoining owner decides to hire their own building surveying team. However, the building owner’s surveyor will be able to decide whether these costs are reasonable, based on a variety of factors such as complexity of works, the distance between the site and the office, the quality of the design team’s drawings, and so on.
If a third building surveyor is appointed, their fees will usually be divided between the building owner and adjoining owner as per the decision of the third surveyor. This is not the same as having an ‘Agreed Surveyor’, which is where there is just one surveyor who acts for both parties.
Learn more about the costs associated with Party Wall surveyor services.
Written & Reviewed by Jeremy Goldney
Party Wall and Boundary Surveyor
MFPWS MPTS
Last reviewed: May 2026
Are You the Building Owner or Adjoining Owner?
Party wall matters usually involve two sides: the Building Owner, who is planning the works, and the
Adjoining Owner, whose property may be affected. The right advice depends on which side of the process you are on.
| If you are the Building Owner | If you are the Adjoining Owner |
|---|---|
| You are planning building works that may fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. | You have received a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour proposing works. |
| You may need to serve the correct Party Wall Notice before starting notifiable works. | You can consent, dissent and appoint your own surveyor, or agree to use an Agreed Surveyor. |
| Drawings, structural details and excavation information may be required, depending on the type of works. | You should review the notice carefully before deciding how to respond. |
| Your neighbours usually have 14 days to respond to the notice. | You should normally respond within 14 days of receiving the notice. |
| If your neighbour dissents, the surveyor appointment and Party Wall Award process usually follows. | Dissenting does not necessarily stop the works, but it helps ensure the correct procedure is followed. |
| A Schedule of Condition may be sensible before works begin, especially where neighbouring property could be affected. | A Schedule of Condition can help record the condition of your property before the works start. |
| Harding Surveyors can help prepare notices, Schedules of Condition and Party Wall Awards. | Harding Surveyors can review the notice, explain your options and advise on the next steps. |
Benefits of Hiring a London Party Wall Surveyor
Ultimately, the benefit of hiring a party wall surveyor in London is that it makes the process straightforward, more time efficient, and less expensive. A party wall surveyor will officially inform your neighbours of the building works that you intend to carry out, explaining key information related to the proposed works.
Hiring a party wall surveyor will prevent legal disputes, avoid delays, gauge the property’s condition prior to starting work, and ultimately, ensure that all decisions are backed by an expert’s experience.
Harding Chartered Surveyors can help you avoid or resolve any disputes or disagreements with your neighbours when carrying out renovations, alterations or making structural changes to your home. We cover all of London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and most of the other home counties.
When Do I Need to Serve A Party Wall Notice?
Party Wall Notices formally inform your neighbours of building works you intend to carry out under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. They are written documents that explain the proposed works and give the adjoining owner the opportunity to consent, dissent, or request further clarification.
Although a building owner can serve a Party Wall Notice themselves, it is often sensible to have the notice prepared or checked by an experienced party wall surveyor. If a notice is incomplete, incorrectly served or served on the wrong person, it may be invalid and could delay the works.
A Party Wall Notice should usually include:
- the building owner’s name and address
- the address where the works will be carried out
- a clear description of the proposed works
- the proposed start date
- relevant drawings or details, where required
- the adjoining owner’s options for responding to the notice
The required notice period depends on the type of work. Works to an existing party wall or party structure usually require two months’ notice. New walls built on or at the boundary line, and excavations within 3 or 6 metres of a neighbouring structure, usually require one month’s notice.
The notice must be served on the legal owner of the adjoining property. Where the adjoining property is occupied by a tenant, the owner should still be identified and served correctly. If there is more than one adjoining owner, each relevant owner may need to be served.
A Party Wall Notice can usually be served up to one year before the proposed works begin. The adjoining owner then has 14 days to respond. They may consent to the works, dissent and appoint their own surveyor, or agree to the appointment of a single Agreed Surveyor.
If the adjoining owner does not respond within 14 days, a dispute is generally deemed to have arisen. In that situation, a further request may be served, giving the adjoining owner 10 days to appoint a surveyor. If they still do not appoint one, a surveyor can usually be appointed on their behalf so that the Party Wall process can continue.
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Working with Harding Chartered Surveyors in London
Harding Chartered Surveyors provide specialist party wall surveyor services across London, helping both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners with Party Wall Notices, Schedules of Condition, neighbour disputes and Party Wall Awards. Our experienced surveyors regularly act on matters involving loft conversions, rear extensions, basement works, structural alterations, chimney breast removals and excavation close to neighbouring properties.
We cover Central London, North London, East London, South East London, South West London and West London.
Whether you are planning building works or have received a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour, our team can explain your options, prepare the correct documentation and guide you through the process from start to finish. Contact Harding Chartered Surveyors today for prompt, professional party wall advice in London.