Party Wall etc. Act 1996
What Is a Party Wall Agreement — and Do You Need One?
If your builder, solicitor or neighbour has mentioned a "party wall agreement", here's what that actually means and what you need to do first.
The agreement is the outcome. The notice comes first.
A party wall agreement — its legal name is a Party Wall Award — is the document that records what building works are permitted and how any potential damage will be handled. It protects both you and your neighbour.
But here's what most people don't realise: you cannot get a party wall agreement without first serving a statutory notice on your neighbour. The notice is the legal starting point. The agreement follows from it.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires you to serve written notice before starting certain types of work — including loft conversions, rear extensions, basement excavations, and work on or near a shared boundary wall.
Serving the correct notice is a legal requirement. Getting it wrong can delay your build, put the notice's effectiveness at risk or expose you to a claim from your neighbour. Planning permission and party wall obligations are separate, so a notice defect does not itself determine planning permission.
The good news: the notice itself is straightforward. You can produce the correct statutory document online in under 10 minutes.
There are three types of notice under the Act
Section 1 Notice
Line of Junction Notice
For new walls built on or astride the boundary line between two properties. At least one month's notice is required; a wall astride the boundary also needs written consent.
Learn more →Section 3 Notice
Party Structure Notice
For works to an existing party wall or party fence wall — including loft conversions, extensions and structural alterations. At least two months' notice is required.
Learn more →Section 6 Notice
Adjacent Excavation Notice
For excavations within 3 or 6 metres of a neighbouring building, including foundations and basement works. At least one month's notice is required.
Learn more →Not sure which one applies to you? The checker below will tell you.
Check whether your works require a notice
Answer a few quick questions about your planned works. This takes about 60 seconds.
What kind of work are you planning?
Pick the option closest to your project. You can refine details on the next screen.
Ready to create your notice?
Your statutory party wall notice is produced as a correctly formatted PDF, ready to serve on your neighbour. It includes all required statutory information under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
Single notice
£48 inc VAT
Two or more notices
From £30 each inc VAT
- Produced instantly — download your PDF immediately
- Covers all three notice types (Sections 1, 3 and 6)
- Drafted in accordance with the Party Wall etc. Act 1996
- For homeowners carrying out qualifying works in England and Wales
- Guidance follows the statutory Party Wall process
Common questions about party wall agreements
Do I need a solicitor to serve a party wall notice?
No. The notice is a statutory document you are entitled to serve yourself, or via a party wall surveyor. Our online service produces the correctly formatted document for you to serve directly on your neighbour.
What happens after I serve the notice?
For Section 3 and Section 6 notices, your neighbour has 14 days to respond in writing. They can consent, dissent and enter the surveyor process, or give no written consent, which can give rise to a deemed dispute. Section 1 is different: a proposed wall astride the boundary needs written consent for that option; silence does not authorise building astride. If surveyors are appointed, they may produce a Party Wall Award.
How long does a party wall agreement take?
The statutory notice period is at least one month for Section 1 and Section 6 notices and at least two months for Section 3 notices. For Section 3 and Section 6, the adjoining owner's 14-day response window is separate from the notice period; no written consent can give rise to a deemed dispute. Section 1 astride-boundary work requires written consent. Any Award timetable depends on surveyor appointments, inspections and the works.
Can I start work before the agreement is in place?
You must wait until the requirements for the relevant notice and works have been met. For Section 3 and Section 6, an express dissent or no written consent within 14 days can require the Section 10 surveyor process before the disputed works proceed. For a Section 1 wall astride the boundary, written consent is required for that option; otherwise the wall must be built wholly on your own land, subject to the Act. Starting early can expose you to an injunction and liability for damage.
What if my neighbour ignores the notice?
For Section 3 and Section 6 notices, no written consent within 14 days can give rise to a deemed dispute and the Section 10 surveyor process. Section 1 is different: if the proposed wall would be astride the boundary, written consent is required and silence does not authorise that option. Our "Find a Surveyor" tool can help you locate an agreed surveyor where the statutory process applies.
Start with the notice. The agreement follows.
Thousands of homeowners each year delay their build because they didn't realise the notice had to come first. Don't let paperwork hold up your project.