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The Building Owner is responsible for ensuring that his/her builder keeps the site and surrounds clean, tidy and safe.
He should provide all necessary hoardings, shoring, temporary supports and security provisions to protect the Adjoining Owner and his visitors from harm resulting from the work. He must also protect the party structure (commonly the Party Wall) from the weather, maintaining structural integrity of the Adjoining Owner's property. In summary they must consider the safety of you and your visitors, the security and structural integrity of your property. A Party Wall Award could take all these concerns into account. If you have any concerns about your neighbour’s plans for building works call us for FREE NO OBLIGATIONS ADVICE on 077300 18236 or email [email protected] Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk
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He can if the relevant Notice has been served and it is necessary to do so.
You may not like it but he has rights to do work from your land that cannot reasonably be done any other way. However he can’t just use your land if he feels like it. If they are entitled to access your land and you try to prevent your neighbour, his/her workmen or surveyor from doing what the Law allows, then you run the risk of criminal action. The penalty could be a fine and a criminal conviction. Is it worth it? If you need more information about your rights regarding a Party Wall matter call us for FREE NO OBLIGATIONS ADVICE on 077300 18236 or email [email protected] Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk Unfortunately this is not a Party Wall Matter.
The Party Wall Etc Act 1996 relates to works on or near a building on an adjoining owner’s land. It is meant to ensure that damage is not done or, if it is, it can be made good again. It has no bearing on easements of light, access, air or support to land. Easements An easement is a right attached to one piece of land (the dominant land) and which affects another piece of land (the servient land). The right either allows the owner of the dominant land to use the servient land in a particular kind of way or it restricts what the owner of the subservient land can do on his land. Examples of easements are:
You may need to involve the courts to make a declaration recognising the existence of an easement and its enforcement. For example the owner of the dominant land might seek an injunction against the owner of the subservient land if a right of light has become blocked - in this case by a Party Wall. There is no legal right to sunlight or even to a view. The amount of light "necessary" as far the law is concerned might surprise and disappoint you. There are people who are specialists in easements. Specialist advice is essential before taking action on the grounds of injury to such an easement. If you need help with Party Wall issues relating to works on your or your neighbour’s property call us for FREE NO OBLIGATIONS ADVICE on 077300 18236 or email [email protected] Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk Not all works on or near a Party Wall need a Party Wall Notice. Knowing when you do and do not need to serve a Notice can save you time and money.
Certain works are considered too minor be covered by the Act.
Even where the works do not require a Notice to be served, it is best to have a chat with your neighbours and let them know about your plans. Listen to their concerns and reassure of them of your good intentions. You could consider amending your plans (if appropriate) to maintain good relations. If you wish to verify your need for a Party Wall Notice on your property call us for FREE NO OBLIGATIONS ADVICE on 077300 18236 or email [email protected] Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk You won’t be surprised to learn it’s a common question.
The first thing you need to understand is what exactly is a party wall? It can be quite complicated but most commonly it is a wall that divides two terraced or semi detached houses. The legal definition according to the Party Wall etc Act 1996, extends the definition of a party wall to encompass other structures. For example a garden wall that sits on or across the boundary of two properties may be considered a party wall under the Act. Additionally, a floor structure that separates two flats could be a party wall. Another confusion is the “Etc.” in the Act. It covers matters such as excavations for foundations and removal of chimney breasts. If an excavation is within 3m of a neighbouring property’s structure, including anything from walls to houses to standalone garages, and if they are to be deeper than those of the existing structure’s foundations, they are covered by the Act. If works include removing a chimney breast from one side of a party wall, a Party Wall Notice is also required. If the proposed works are covered by the Act you will need to serve a Party Wall Notice. A document describing the proposed works. To be valid the Notice must include key information as outlined in the The Party Wall etc Act 1996 The Party Wall etc Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings. A good Party Wall Surveyor aims to maintain or even improve neighbourly relations before, during and after your building works are complete. If you wish to verify the status of a wall on your property call us for FREE NO OBLIGATIONS ADVICE on 077300 18236 or email [email protected] Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk This is a question that as Party Wall Surveyors we are often asked and we hear the same few reasons a property owner is considering not serving a Party Wall Notice, which include:
We will explain point by point what you need to know before you make a decision. At the end the conclusion you come to will be fairly clear cut. 1. The benefit of the protection a Party Wall Notice is normally felt when your neighbour claims you have damaged their property. Up to that point things often progress without issue. If there has not been an independent expert Schedule of Condition produced, prior to the commencement of the building work, it is extremely difficult to establish which damage was caused by the works and what was already there. Are you sure your neighbours will give you the benefit of the doubt? When it comes to money, there are few property owners who are happy to lose out to their neighbours. If you have a disagreement about the extent or value of the damage caused, things can quickly escalate and end up in court. This is where things get expensive. If you lose in court you will often be liable for the repairs, your legal team’s cost and your neighbour’s legal team’s cost plus court costs. Expect big bills! A Party Wall Notice followed by a Party Wall Award (formal agreement) can be used as an effective means of arbitration between two parties which should avoid a head on confrontation. A matter of a few hundred can escalate into many thousands in court because an agreement couldn’t be reach between two ‘friends’. 2. As a decent upstanding Building Owner you are probably happy to pay for damage your work has caused to your neighbours property. The difficulty arises when you try to establish which damage was actually caused by your works and the £ value of work to put it right. Some neighbours see your willingness to pay for damage as a right to claim for extra works. A Party Wall Surveyor can protect you from cheeky claims. 3. Neighbours should not able to stop you building. Once you have gained the required planning and building regulations approval you should be free to get on. If you take advantage of the protection afforded by Party Wall etc Act 1996 your neighbour is not entitled to stop you. Even if you require access to their property to build. The Act is designed to enable your work to proceed at a reasonable pace. A Party Wall Notice and following Award will make it clear what you are entitled to do to your and your neighbour’s property. If your neighbour frustrates the process of your build there can be financial consequences for them. The courts favours those who act within the law. 4. The real question is, “Can you afford not to?” The cost of ignoring the requirement to serve a Notice can easily escalate into many thousands. For example, If you fail to serve a Notice your neighbour can quickly, easily and entirely lawfully employ a solicitor and barrister to take out an injunction to stop your work until you have served an appropriate and valid Notice. The bill for this will be yours because you didn’t serve a Notice. If the budget for your works is tight and you do not have a contingency fund, how do you intend to put right any damage caused by your works? It may not be sensible to start your work until you can afford all the costs involved with your work. 5. It can matter very much, very quickly. There is no escape from rectifying the damage caused by your works. The courts frown upon those who have ignored the need to serve a Notice. Bailiffs can be used to recover any costs owed by you. 6. Although there are costs involved in drafting and serving Notices and Awards they are cheap compared to the fees of those from the legal profession. If you don’t appoint a Party Wall Surveyor you should be aware that if there any disputes you may have to appoint a solicitor and perhaps a barrister to represent you in court. And don’t forget to allow for the fees of the legal teams of your neighbour’s. The failure to operate within the law is frowned on by the court. Party Wall Surveyors are there to save you the need to go to court and incur potentially huge fees. 7. In practical terms, once you have carried out relevant building works without serving a Notice your neighbour cannot insist you issue a Notice nor can they get an injunction to stop you.. However, this in turn means any dispute arising from this works will probably have to be resolved in court by lawyers and not by Party Wall Surveyors. A Party Wall Notice offers you protection from false or malicious claims from your neighbours and from expensive legal costs. If you fail to submit a Notice and damage is caused, when your neighbours take you to court it will be a black mark against you before you even attempt any defence. What will your defence be? Party Wall Notices and Awards mitigate your costs. They won’t reduce them to nothing but go a long way to avoid legal actions and court appearances which can escalate into tens of thousands of pounds. The need for a formal agreement is clear. It can help you avoid unnecessary disputes with neighbours. A good Party Wall Surveyor aims to maintain or even improve neighbourly relations before, during and after your building works are complete. Why risk it? Karmjit Grewal MFPWS Coburns Party Wall www.coburnspartywall.co.uk |
AuthorKarmjit Grewal MFPWS Archives
November 2016
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