Response 1 — Consent in writing
Write a short letter or email to the building owner stating: "I consent to the works described in your Party Wall notice dated [date] in respect of [property address]." Sign and date it. Send by hand, post or — if the building owner agreed in writing — by email. That ends the Party Wall process for that notice.
Response 2 — Dissent and appoint your own surveyor
Write: "I dissent from the works described in your Party Wall notice dated [date] in respect of [property address]. I appoint [Surveyor name] of [firm and address] as my surveyor under Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996." Send a copy to your appointed surveyor. From this point on, your surveyor handles correspondence and the building owner pays your reasonable surveyor fees under Section 10(13).
Response 3 — Dissent with an Agreed Surveyor
Write: "I dissent from the works described and propose that we jointly appoint [Surveyor name] as the Agreed Surveyor under Section 10 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996." The building owner can then accept (in which case one surveyor handles the matter for both of you) or insist on appointing their own — at which point you appoint yours.
How to deliver your response
- By hand — get a signature or take a dated photograph of delivery.
- By recorded post — keep the receipt.
- By email — only if the building owner has agreed in writing that email is acceptable for service.
What happens if you don't respond?
Fourteen days of silence is treated as deemed dissent. After a further ten days the building owner may appoint a surveyor on your behalf under Section 10(4)(b) — meaning you lose the choice. Always respond.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a template for responding to a Party Wall notice?
Yes. A simple letter — addressed to the building owner, citing the date of the notice and the property address, and clearly stating either 'I consent to the works described' or 'I dissent from the works described and appoint [Surveyor name] as my surveyor under Section 10' — is sufficient. Date and sign it, and send by hand or recorded post.
Can I respond by email?
Yes, if the building owner has agreed in writing that email is an acceptable method of service. If they served the original notice by post, posting your response back is the safest route.
Can I change my mind after consenting?
Once you have consented in writing, the Party Wall process for that notice is closed. If your neighbour subsequently changes the scope of the works in a way that makes them more onerous, a fresh notice may be required and you will have a new fourteen-day window to consider it.
What if my neighbour serves a defective notice?
If the notice is missing required information (for example, no start date, no description of the works, or no signature), it is invalid and the fourteen-day clock has not started. You can write back pointing out what is missing, but the safer route is to ask a surveyor to review it and respond on your behalf.