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Party Wall Act Rye

We are Chartered Surveyors and Building Consultants with a wealth of experience dealing with Party Wall Act matters in Rye.

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Our expert team in Rye can advise on a wide range of building issues, offer detailed surveys and reports, and routinely advise on all issues arising from the Party Wall Act 1996.

Southdown Surveyors in Rye

Southdown Chartered Surveyors and Building Consultants have been providing clients in Rye and across Sussex with a professional and independent surveying service for over ten years. One of our specialist areas is the Party Wall Act and we have a team of experts who can provide professional advice on your specific situation. With our expertise and knowledge of this specific area, we are able to implement the necessary legal procedures to ensure your proposals are undertaken within the rules of the Party Wall Act.

Matthew Symmonds is the founding Director of Southdown Surveyors. With a particular interest in Party Wall matters, Matthew is highly experienced in working within the parameters of this significant piece of legislation. Matthew is a member of The Pyramus & Thisbe Club, the professional organisation that promotes best practice in the application of the Party Wall Act 1996.

The Party Wall Act 1996 Explained

What is a party wall? It is simply classified as a dividing wall between your property and a neighbour’s property, or an excavation near to a neighbouring property. The Act came into force in July 1997 and is now enshrined in English law. For any refurbishment proposals or construction projects involving building works to a party wall, the regulations set out in the Party Wall Act 1996 become applicable. 

The general premise is that any building work that might affect the support function or structural strength of a party wall between two properties, or has the potential to cause damage to the neighbouring side of the wall, must then be notified in writing. If the Party Wall Act does apply to any building works carried out by yourself or the neighbour on the other side, the process laid down in the Act needs to be followed and administered correctly. This requires a detailed understanding of what is (and is not!) permissible, and what you must (and must not!) do. If the processes under the Act are not followed correctly, ongoing on-site work may be stopped while the issue is resolved, which is likely to result in extra costs being incurred and undesirable delays.

Prior to any building work being undertaken it is strongly advised that you obtain pertinent advice and gain a general understanding of the processes and obligations of the Party Wall Act 1996.  A detailed explanatory booklet is available to read here and an overview and general guidance provided by the Government can be obtained here. It is recommended that specific advice be sought from a professional surveyor who is fully conversant with the Act with solid experience in Party Wall matters.

Southdown Surveyors can help

At times, disputes and issues can arise over any building project. If, it has not been possible to reach a satisfactory agreement between the neighbouring parties and written consent has not been given under the Party Wall Act 1996, Southdown Surveyors can help to resolve the situation.

Why not let Southdown Surveyors in Rye use their impartiality to liaise with your neighbours (and their surveyors where necessary) to ensure that all parties meet their obligations under the Act, ensuring that everyone is treated fairly? Our knowledgeable team have extensive experience in acting as either the Building Owner’s surveyor, where you intend to undertake the works, or as the Adjoining Owner’s surveyor, where your neighbour is undertaking works. We can provide you with confidence and peace of mind knowing that your project will be successful. 

Contact 

Our helpful team are happy to help in anyway they can. If you wish to discuss your requirements for any building project or construction works that may fall under the Party Wall Act 1996 please call us on 01323 739183. Or, to arrange an appointment please contact us by filling in the form on this page. If you would simply like some further general information on the Party Wall Act etc, the links below offer some helpful guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance – Guidance on preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls

http://www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/glossary/party-walls/ – A clear, impartial guide to… Party walls

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