Our Roles and Responsibilities as the Building Owner's Surveyor
Building Owner Surveyor Roles and Responsibilities
Based on acting as Builder Owner’s Surveyor only
Where Adjoining Owner appoints their own choice of Surveyor
Should any damages occur, it is normal for extra charges to be incurred at an hourly rate over and above the original fee.
The process starts with the service of Notices.
It should be noted that if Notices do not contain all of the necessary information, or are not properly served, they will be invalid. We pay careful attention always following best practice where possible.
The most time consuming task that the party wall surveyor performs is the arranging access, inspection and preparation of a Schedule of Condition of any Adjoining Owner’s property. We take care to ensure that this is done accurately, with the necessary care and attention, so that any subsequent damage can be properly attributed.
If there are two surveyors this is prepared by the building owner’s surveyor, and checked and agreed with by, the adjoining owner’s surveyor.
An important point to remember is that once a surveyor is appointed under the Act they have a duty to act in an entirely impartial manner. Our goal is to have an equitable outcome for all.
Building Owners sometimes find this part of the Act hard to swallow, expecting that the Surveyor should act in their favour as they are footing the bill. However, by being impartial we are simply protecting you against possible future legal action instigated by a disgruntled neighbour who feels hard done by a unfair Award.
Next we 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/surveyor during the course of the works and what happens in case of damage.
Finally we come to our fees, under all normal circumstances these are paid by the Building Owner. Surveyors appointed by the building owner will normally quote a fixed fee whereas the adjoining owner’s surveyor will charge by the hour. The final figures are agreed by the two Surveyors and entered into the Award just before it is served.
If we are appointed as Building Owner Surveyor only we can often commit to fixed fees from just £395* to act as the Building Owner Surveyor. Adjoining Owner Surveyor fees are likely to be higher.
It will save the Building Owner time and money to have the neighbours agree to appoint an Agreed Surveyor. A cordial relationship with your neighbours may help in achieving this.
*per Award. Includes pre Notice assessment and advice, land registry and postal costs, and drafting and serving of a Notice and an Award. Excludes Schedule of Condition.
Based on acting as Builder Owner’s Surveyor only
Where Adjoining Owner appoints their own choice of Surveyor
- Researching, Drafting, Reviewing and Serving Notices
- Co-ordinate with Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor to select a Third Surveyor (to be called upon where the appointed Surveyors cannot reach agreement).
- Arranging access and attending site to record the condition of the adjoining owner’s property
- Creating an accurate Schedule of Condition
- Producing a fair Party Wall Award(s) (subject to negotiation with adjoining property owners Surveyor(s))
- Drafting, issuing and serving the Party Wall Awards to Building Owner(s)
Should any damages occur, it is normal for extra charges to be incurred at an hourly rate over and above the original fee.
- Negotiating additional Awards where damage has been caused
The process starts with the service of Notices.
It should be noted that if Notices do not contain all of the necessary information, or are not properly served, they will be invalid. We pay careful attention always following best practice where possible.
The most time consuming task that the party wall surveyor performs is the arranging access, inspection and preparation of a Schedule of Condition of any Adjoining Owner’s property. We take care to ensure that this is done accurately, with the necessary care and attention, so that any subsequent damage can be properly attributed.
If there are two surveyors this is prepared by the building owner’s surveyor, and checked and agreed with by, the adjoining owner’s surveyor.
An important point to remember is that once a surveyor is appointed under the Act they have a duty to act in an entirely impartial manner. Our goal is to have an equitable outcome for all.
Building Owners sometimes find this part of the Act hard to swallow, expecting that the Surveyor should act in their favour as they are footing the bill. However, by being impartial we are simply protecting you against possible future legal action instigated by a disgruntled neighbour who feels hard done by a unfair Award.
Next we 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/surveyor during the course of the works and what happens in case of damage.
Finally we come to our fees, under all normal circumstances these are paid by the Building Owner. Surveyors appointed by the building owner will normally quote a fixed fee whereas the adjoining owner’s surveyor will charge by the hour. The final figures are agreed by the two Surveyors and entered into the Award just before it is served.
If we are appointed as Building Owner Surveyor only we can often commit to fixed fees from just £395* to act as the Building Owner Surveyor. Adjoining Owner Surveyor fees are likely to be higher.
It will save the Building Owner time and money to have the neighbours agree to appoint an Agreed Surveyor. A cordial relationship with your neighbours may help in achieving this.
*per Award. Includes pre Notice assessment and advice, land registry and postal costs, and drafting and serving of a Notice and an Award. Excludes Schedule of Condition.
