Step 1 — Decide which type of notice you need
There are three notice types under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. A Section 1 notice covers building a new wall on or up to the boundary. A Section 3 notice covers cutting into, raising, lowering or rebuilding a shared wall — this is the most common notice for loft conversions, chimney removals and rear extensions. A Section 6 notice covers excavations within 3 m or 6 m of a neighbouring building. If you're not sure, take our free eligibility checker.
Step 2 — Identify every adjoining owner
You must serve a notice on every adjoining owner whose property could be affected. That includes leaseholders with a lease of more than one year, freeholders, and (for flats) the freeholder of the building plus the leaseholder of any flat sharing a wall with yours. Land Registry title searches cost £3 each and are the most reliable way to confirm ownership.
Step 3 — Include the statutory information
Every Party Wall notice must contain:
- The full name and address of the building owner (the person doing the works).
- The address of the property where the works will take place.
- A clear description of the proposed works, with enough detail that the adjoining owner can understand what's planned.
- The proposed start date of the works.
- For Section 6 notices, drawings showing the depth and proximity of the excavation.
- The date the notice is signed.
Step 4 — Use the right notice period
The notice period depends on the type. Section 1 requires one month. Section 3 requires two months. Section 6 requires one month. The clock starts on the date of service, not the date the notice is signed. Works cannot lawfully begin until the period has expired (or every adjoining owner has consented in writing earlier).
Step 5 — Serve the notice properly
Under Section 15 of the Act, valid service means: handing the notice to the adjoining owner in person; posting it to their property; or emailing it to an address they have agreed in writing to use for service. We recommend printed delivery by hand or by recorded post so you have proof of service if a dispute later arises.
Step 6 — Keep proof of service
Take a photograph of the envelope going through the letterbox, or keep the post office receipt. If the notice ever needs to be relied upon in court (for example, if your neighbour later claims they were never told about the works) this proof is critical.
Step 7 — Track the 14-day response window
The adjoining owner has fourteen days to respond. They can consent in writing, dissent and appoint their own surveyor, or fail to respond at all (which is treated as deemed dissent). Our service automatically emails you a free 10-day reminder letter on Day 13 and a deemed-dissent guide on Day 24 if no response arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write my own Party Wall notice?
Yes. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does not require a surveyor to write the notice — the building owner can serve it themselves. The notice must contain specific information (your name and address, the property address, a description of the works, and the proposed start date) and must be served correctly on every adjoining owner. Most homeowners use our generator to make sure the wording is statutorily correct, but a hand-typed notice is equally valid if it includes the right content.
Do I need to use a template?
There is no single official template, but the notice must include the statutory information set out in Sections 1, 3 or 6 of the Act (depending on which type applies). Using a template — like our generator — removes the risk of leaving something out and having the notice ruled invalid.
How do I serve the notice on my neighbour?
Under Section 15 of the Act you can serve the notice by handing it to the adjoining owner in person, posting it to their address, or emailing it to an email address they have agreed in writing to receive notices at. We recommend printed delivery by hand or recorded post so you have evidence of service.
What if I don't know my neighbour's name?
You can address the notice to 'The Owner' at the relevant property. The notice still has legal effect.