Party Wall Awards
The binding document that settles a party wall dispute — and the reason works cannot start until it is served. Pace matters as much as the paperwork.
The formal agreement that allows work to proceed
A Party Wall Award is a formal legal document that determines a dispute between neighbouring property owners under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It establishes the scope of the proposed works, the conditions under which they may be undertaken, the measures required to safeguard the adjoining property, and the allocation of costs, including surveyors' fees.
The Award can be prepared by a single surveyor jointly appointed by both owners, or by two separate surveyors, with each owner appointing their own representative. Where the appointed surveyors are unable to reach an agreement, a third surveyor can be called upon to resolve the outstanding matters.
Where an Award is required, it must be served on the relevant owners before the works covered by it can proceed. This makes the surveyor's ability to manage the process efficiently just as important as the accuracy and quality of the Award itself.
What is included
- Review of drawings
- Drafting the Award
- Addressing queries
- Serve Award by Royal Mail Tracked 24®
- Digital distribution by email
- Continued support
The Party Wall process, step by step
We manage the statutory process on your behalf so your project stays on track and fully compliant.
- 1
Free Initial Consultation
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation. We'll discuss your proposed works, explain your obligations under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, answer any questions you may have, and provide a fixed-fee quotation with no hidden costs.
- 2
Instruction
Once you are happy to proceed, we'll send you our statutory Letter of Appointment, which gives one of our surveyors authority under the Act to handle the process from start to finish, keeping you informed at every stage and making the legal requirements as straightforward as possible.
- 3
Party Wall Notice
Serving Notice is the first stage of your project. Your Notice will be professionally researched, prepared and served correctly from the outset. Based on your neighbour's response, additional party wall services such as a Schedule of Condition or Party Wall Award may be required.
From this point, the process depends on how your neighbour responds.
If your neighbour consents
If your neighbour consents to the notice, you can usually proceed with your works once the statutory notice period has expired (or immediately where permitted). For additional protection, we can prepare a Schedule of Condition — a detailed written and photographic record of your neighbour's property before work begins. This provides valuable evidence should any damage claims arise during construction.
If your neighbour dissents
If your neighbour dissents or does not respond to the notice and follow-up letter, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires surveyor(s) to resolve the matter. We'll guide you through the process and prepare the appropriate Party Wall Award, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of both parties, explains how the works should be carried out, and includes a Schedule of Condition to protect everyone involved.
- 4
Ready to Start Your Works
Once the appropriate Party Wall Award has been completed, your project can proceed.
Party wall award FAQs
How long does an award usually take?
It depends on the complexity of the works, whether an agreed surveyor is used, and how quickly the other surveyor engages. We move on our own steps immediately and chase the other side, and we will give you a realistic view once we know the specifics.
What happens if the other surveyor is slow to respond?
This is the most common cause of delay. We chase actively and in writing, keep a clear record of the correspondence, and where a matter genuinely stalls the Act has provisions for dealing with it.
Can I choose my own surveyor?
Yes. Your neighbour is equally free to appoint theirs — that is the two-surveyor route, with a third surveyor selected to resolve any deadlock. If both owners are content to use one surveyor, that is an agreed surveyor appointment, which is usually quicker and cheaper.
What does it cost, and who pays?
Fees depend on the complexity of the works and the number of adjoining owners, so we quote on the specifics. Under the Act the building owner — the party carrying out the work — normally pays the reasonable surveying costs, and the award records how fees are apportioned.
What if we still cannot agree after the award?
An award is binding once served, but either owner may appeal it in the county court within 14 days of service. In practice appeals are uncommon; most disagreements are resolved between the surveyors, or by the third surveyor, before the award is finalised.
Ready to get your award moving?
Tell us about your project and the stage it has reached. A senior surveyor will come back to you with the next step.