Articles
Articles & guides
Plain-English guidance on the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Practical, jargon-free information to help you serve a correct notice and keep costs proportionate.
12 June 2026
Do You Need a Party Wall Notice for a Loft Conversion?
Most loft conversions require a party wall notice — but the type, timing, and detail depend on your works. Here's what you need, and when to serve it.
Read the article →12 June 2026
Party Wall Notice for an Extension: What You Need, When You Need It
Most rear extensions trigger the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 — through the shared wall, the foundations, or both. Here's which notice you need, and when to serve it.
Read the article →12 June 2026
My Neighbour Ignored My Party Wall Notice — What Happens Now?
No reply after 14 days? The Act treats silence as a deemed dissent — not a veto. Here's how the surveyor and Award process works when your neighbour won't engage.
Read the article →12 June 2026
Section 6 Party Wall Notice: Do Your Extension Foundations Need One?
Section 6 is the most commonly missed notice — it covers digging near a neighbour's foundations, even on your own land. Here's how to tell if your extension triggers it.
Read the article →12 June 2026
45% of Neighbours Consent to Party Wall Notices — Here's What That Means for Your Works
Nearly half of all party wall notices result in neighbour consent — meaning no surveyor, no award, no four-figure bill. Here's how a correctly served notice keeps you in that 45%.
Read the article →14 July 2026
How Much Does a Party Wall Surveyor Cost in 2026?
Surveyor fees of £900–£2,700, hourly rates of £150–£300 — and the building owner usually pays both sides. Here's what party wall surveyors actually cost in 2026, and how nearly half of homeowners avoid the bill altogether.
Read the article →14 July 2026
Party Wall Notice Response: Consent vs Dissent Explained
Consent, dissent, or silence — the three possible responses to a party wall notice lead to very different costs and timescales. Here's what each one actually means, for both sides of the wall.
Read the article →14 July 2026
Can I Serve a Party Wall Notice Myself? Yes — Here's How
The Party Wall Act doesn't require a professional to serve your notice — you can do it yourself. But a defective notice is worthless. Here's exactly what a valid notice needs, and where DIY attempts go wrong.
Read the article →14 July 2026
Do I Need a Party Wall Agreement for a Small Extension?
A notice and an 'agreement' are not the same thing. Most small extensions need the first and never reach the second. Here's what the Act actually asks of a modest single-storey build.
Read the article →22 July 2026
Do I Need a Party Wall Agreement for a Garage Conversion?
Whether a garage conversion needs a party wall notice depends on how your garage is built and what work you're planning — not the fact that it's a garage. Here's how to tell.
Read the article →29 July 2026
Party Wall Notice by Email: Is It Valid?
Email seems the obvious modern way to serve a party wall notice — but the Act was written before email existed. Here's when email service is valid, and why post is still the safest route.
Read the article →5 August 2026
What Is a Party Wall Award? A Complete Plain-English Guide
One of the most misunderstood documents in the party wall process: what a Party Wall Award actually is, what it contains, who produces it, and how long it takes to get one.
Read the article →12 August 2026
Party Wall Notice for a Basement or Cellar Conversion: What You Need
Basements often need Section 3 and Section 6 notices together, and depth relative to your neighbour's foundations — not distance alone — decides what's required.
Read the article →24 August 2026
Do I Need a Party Wall Notice to Build a Garden or Boundary Wall?
New garden and boundary walls fall under Section 1 — a different notice type with its own response rules, distinct from the Section 3 and 6 notices covered elsewhere on the site.
Read the article →
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