Having party wall notices drafted costs £49 with us. That buys correctly drafted notices for you to serve on your neighbours. It does not buy a party wall surveyor, and any surveyor's fees are a separate matter, covered below.
On this page
Owners of London terraces and semis meet the Act whenever a beam goes into a shared wall or a loft conversion bears on one. The notice is short, but a wrong section or a wrong period can make it invalid, and then the clock starts again.
Which work needs a notice?
Three kinds. Work to an existing party structure, which includes cutting into it for a beam, needs two months' notice (section 3). A new wall on the boundary needs one month (section 1). Excavation near a neighbour's foundations needs one month (section 6). Our party wall guide explains each.
The Act is separate from planning and building regulations (GOV.UK), so planning permission does not replace it.
What happens after you serve it?
The neighbour can consent in writing, and you proceed. If they do not consent within 14 days they are treated as dissenting (section 5), and a surveyor, agreed or one each, settles an award. That is where the real cost can arise, and it is not ours: we draft the notices and do not act as surveyor.
Who pays for what?
The building owner generally pays for the work (section 11), and a dispute can bring surveyors' fees. Ask any surveyor for a written fee before you appoint, because we do not quote it here. What we can do is give them an accurate beam size, which our steel beam cost post explains.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve the notice myself? Yes. We draft it so the sections, periods and particulars are right.
What if my neighbour is a leaseholder or a landlord? The Act speaks of owners, which is wider than the freeholder. Tell us who the neighbours are and we address the notices accordingly.
Does a notice lapse? A notice lapses if work has not begun within twelve months, so time the notice with the build.
Do I need one for a loft conversion? If steel bears into a shared wall, yes. Our Part A guide shows when.
