THE ROLE OF THE ADJOINING OWNER'S SURVEYOR

The Adjoining Owner's Surveyor Role 
Based on acting as adjoining owner’s surveyor only. 
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• Reviewing the notice(s) and accompanying drawings to verify their validity and suitability. 
• Coordinate with building owner’s surveyor to select a third surveyor (to be called upon where the appointed surveyors cannot reach agreement).
• Attending the property to understand hte possible impact of the works and confirm the accuracy of the drawings.
• Negotiating an equitable party wall award with the builder owner’s surveyor.
• Making and serving the party wall award.
• Offering ongoing advice and guidance to the adjoining owner.
• Agreeing a further award in the event a dispute occurs.

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The process starts with the service of notice(s).
It should be noted that if the notice(s) does not contain all of the necessary information, or is not properly served, it may be deemed invalid. We pay careful attention at this stage, following best practice.

Once a surveyor is appointed under the Act they have a duty to act in an entirely impartial manner. Our goal is to achieve an equitable outcome for all. 

An important task that the adjoining owner’s surveyor performs is an inspection of the adjoining owner's property. This helps us to understand the possible impact of the works and to confirm the drawings are accurate. 

Once it is clear all the necessary information is present and correct, the building owner’s surveyor will prepare a draft document known as a “party wall award” for the adjoining owner's surveyor to consider. This document sets out the owners’ rights and responsibilities in relation to how the work should proceed and covers items such as working hours, access rights for the workmen/surveyors during the course of the works and what happens in case of damage. As the adjoining owner’s surveyor, we take care to check all your valid concerns have been taken into consideration.

Finally we come to our fees, under all normal circumstances these are paid by the building owner.