The short answer
Not usually. As the adjoining owner you generally do not pay for the party wall process: the building owner normally meets the reasonable surveyors’ fees, makes good any damage, and compensates you for loss their work causes. So in a well-run matter you should not be out of pocket. The main risk of losing money comes from one thing — appointing a fee-hungry or incompetent surveyor on your behalf.
Why it matters
The Act is designed so that the owner doing the work bears its cost, including protecting the neighbour. That is why, on a routine matter, your position is essentially cost-neutral. The risk lies in the choice of surveyor. A fee-hungry surveyor can run up charges, sour relations, and turn a simple job into a drawn-out one; and not every fee a surveyor incurs is automatically recoverable from the building owner if it is unreasonable, which can leave questions about who pays. An incompetent surveyor can miss the protections you actually need — a proper schedule of condition, sensible award terms — which can cost you later if damage occurs and there is no good record. Choosing a competent, fair surveyor (or agreeing to a single competent agreed surveyor) is the simplest way to keep your risk at nil.
What to do now
- Remember the building owner usually pays the reasonable fees and for any damage.
- Choose a competent, fair surveyor — or agree to a single competent agreed surveyor.
- Avoid fee-driven surveyors; their approach is the main way you could be exposed.
- Make sure a proper schedule of condition is taken, so any damage claim is straightforward.
Common mistakes
- Appointing a fee-hungry surveyor and assuming every charge is someone else’s problem.
- Treating the choice of surveyor as unimportant because “the other side pays”.
- Going without a schedule of condition and struggling to prove damage later.
When to call Coburns
We act for adjoining owners fairly and proportionately, so your interests are protected without the risks a fee-driven approach creates.