The Agreed Surveyor Role Based on acting as the agreed surveyor for both parties.
Advising, preparing, drafting, reviewing and serving notice(s).
Arranging access and attending the site to understand the site specific circumatances.
Recording a schedule of condition of the adjoining owner’s property.
Producing an equitable party wall award (subject to negotiation with adjoining property owner).
Drafting, making and serving the party wall award (on the parties).
Making additional awards where necessary
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, 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 agreed 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. An inspection also facilitates the preparation of a schedule of condition of the adjoining owner’s property. We take care to ensure that this is done with the necessary care and attention, so that any subsequent damage can be properly attributed.
Once it is clear all the necessary information is present and correct, the agreed surveyor will prepare a document known as a “party wall award”. 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 agreed 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.
