When a Section 1 notice applies
Section 1 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 deals with the “line of junction” — the boundary between two pieces of land. You must serve a Section 1 notice if you propose to build either a new wall on the boundary line, or a new wall entirely on your own land but up to the boundary. It does not apply if the wall is set back from the boundary, or if the work is internal.
The statutory notice period
A Section 1 notice requires one month of notice before works commence. The clock starts on the date of service — not the date the notice is dated.
Common scenarios
- A new garden wall built on the boundary line.
- A new boundary fence wall, taller than two metres.
- A flank wall on a new extension built up to the boundary.
- Replacing an existing party fence wall with a new structure.
What the adjoining owner can do in response
The adjoining owner has fourteen days to respond. They can: consent to the proposal in writing; consent to a wall being built astride the boundary; or refuse — in which case you may build the wall entirely on your own land. Importantly, an AO cannot prevent a Section 1 wall — they can only influence whether it sits on or up to the boundary.
Sample notice wording
Our generator produces the full statutory wording automatically. The notice includes the building owner's name and address, the property address, a description of the proposed wall and its dimensions, and the intended start date.
What if no reply within 14 days?
Under the Act, no reply within fourteen days is treated as dissent. From day fifteen onwards the appointment of surveyors process begins. Our service emails you a free 10-day reminder letter and, on day twenty-four, a deemed-dissent guide explaining your next steps — including how to appoint a surveyor.