The Party Wall Act Explained
What the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers and when you need to serve notice.
4 min read · Updated 2026
Key takeaways
- ›The Act applies to shared walls and certain works near a boundary.
- ›You must give written notice before starting covered works.
- ›A dispute does not stop you — it triggers a surveyor process.
When the Act applies
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 covers work that affects a wall you share with a neighbour, work on a boundary wall, and excavations within 3m (or 6m for deeper works) of a neighbouring building. Common triggers include loft conversions that cut into a party wall, removing chimney breasts on a shared stack, building on the line of junction (the boundary), and digging foundations for an extension close to a neighbour's property.
Your duties
You must give written notice to your neighbour at least two months before starting party-wall works (one month for boundary or excavation works). The notice should describe the work and include drawings. A neighbour can consent, in which case you proceed, or dissent, in which case a Party Wall Surveyor is appointed to draw up an award setting out how the work is done and who pays.
- •Serve notice at least 2 months before party-wall works.
- •Include drawings and a clear description.
- •A dissenting neighbour triggers a surveyor's award — not a block.
- •You usually pay the surveyor's fees if you initiated the work.
Practical tips
Talk to your neighbour before serving formal notice — most disputes come from surprise, not the work itself. Take photos of the neighbour's property before work starts (a "schedule of condition") to avoid later arguments about cracks that were already there. A Party Wall Surveyor can act for both of you if you agree on one.
Frequently asked
Can my neighbour stop my extension?
No. The Act is about how work is done, not whether it can be. A dispute goes to a surveyor, not to a veto.
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