Advice note to persons carrying out building work or excavations on or near to boundaries.
The Party Wall etc Act 1996 came into effect on the 1st July 1997 throughout England and Wales.
The Act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
The Party Wall etc Act 1996 will apply if you intend to carry out building work which involves:-
- Work on an existing wall shared with another property.
- Building on the boundary with a neighbouring property.
- Excavating near a neighbouring building.
You must find out if the work you propose falls within the scope of the Act. If it does you must serve the statutory notice on all those defined by the Act as adjoining owners.
Remember that reaching agreement with adjoining owners on a project that falls within the scope of the Act does not remove the possible need for planning permission or building regulations approval.
More information about the Act is contained in "The Party Wall etc. Act 1996: Explanatory Booklet" (product code 97 PBD 008). This is also available, free of charge, from: CLG Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7NB (Tel: 0870 1226236, Fax: 0870 1226237, Text phone: 0870 1207405.
Or can be downloaded as a PDF file from the box on the right hand side of the page.
Useful Contacts
If you are not sure whether the Act applies to the work that you are planning, you should seek professional advice.
The following professional body is willing to provide general and informal advice about the Act. (Any advice given should not be seen as being endorsed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.)
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Technical Services Unit,
12 Great George Street,
London, SW1P 3AD
Tel: 020 7222 7000 (extension 492)
Fax: 020 7222 9430
The following bodies hold lists of their members who may be willing to provide professional advice or act as a "surveyor" under the Act. (Any advice given should not be seen as being endorsed by Leeds City Council).
Architecture and Surveying Institute
Register of Party Wall Surveyors,
St Mary House,
15 St Mary Street,
Chippenham,
Wiltshire, SN15 3WD
Tel: 01249 444505
Fax: 01249 443602
The Association of Building Engineers (ABE)
Private Practice Register,
Lutyens House,
Billing Brook Road,
Weston Favell,
Northampton, NN3 8NW
Tel: 01604 404121
Fax: 01604 784220
The Pyramus & Thisbe Club
Florence House,
53 Acton Lane,
London, NW10 8UX
Tel: 020 8961 3311
Fax: 020 8963 1689
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Client’s Advisory Service,
66 Portland Place,
London, W1N 4AD
Tel: 020 7307 3700
Fax: 020 7436 9112
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
Information Centre,
12 Great George Street,
London, SW1P 3AD
Tel: 020 7222 7000
Fax: 020 7222 9430