Party Wall Surveyors - Banbury
Whether you're planning work on a party wall, structure, or boundary in Banbury, or if you've received a party wall notice from a neighbour and require expert advice, Easton Bevins can help.
With a dedicated team of party wall surveyors serving Banbury with significant expertise in handling projects that fall under the Party Wall Act we can provide professional advice and support.
Our experienced surveyors will guide you through the process, ensuring that all work is carried out in accordance with the rules of the Act. We are also highly skilled in resolving potential disputes quickly and efficiently, minimising any disruption and ensuring all parties are kept informed throughout.
For expert advice on the Party Wall Act:
Call our Birmingham office on 0121 817 7670, email or complete our enquiry form.
Party Wall Act
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was introduced to help prevent and resolve disputes related to work on party walls, boundary walls, and excavations near neighbouring properties.
You can download the Government's explanatory booklet for further information.
Download booklet
The Party Wall Act requires you to notify your adjoining neighbour before carrying out any work on a shared or adjoining structure. If you fail to serve the appropriate notice, you will not have the legal right to proceed with your planned work.
Additionally, if you need access to your neighbour’s property—for example, to erect scaffolding—you must obtain their permission under the Act.
Though serving a party wall notice may seem like a formality, it is an essential legal requirement. In some instances, you may even be entitled to ask your neighbour to contribute to the cost of repairs, particularly if it concerns a shared or party wall that requires maintenance.
The Act is designed to protect both parties: enabling the person carrying out the work to proceed while safeguarding the neighbour from unnecessary disruption or damage. Once consent is granted, work can proceed smoothly, and if any disputes arise, they can be resolved efficiently through the correct documentation.
Party wall disputes v. boundary disputes
Party wall disputes are sometimes confused with boundary disputes but the two are very different.
Find out more about party wall disputes:
Read more
If you think that someone has encroached on your land, that would be classified as a boundary dispute. With expertise in this complex area Easton Bevins can also help with boundary disputes.
Find out more about boundary disputes:
Read More
the process
Stage 1
If you are planning work on an existing party wall you need to give two months’ notice. If you are planning on excavating or building a new wall at the line of junction you need to give one month’s notice.
If you do not give notice your neighbour has the right to serve an injunction which will stop all work while a resolution is reached.
Stage 2
Once notice has been given, your neighbour will have three options.
i) consent to the works
ii) dissent to the works and you both agree to appoint one surveyor to act for both parties to resolve the matter
iii) dissent to the works and appoint their own party wall surveyor, so a separate surveyor working for each party
Stage 3
If the neighbour does not consent, The Party Wall Act considers this to be a party wall dispute which must be resolved by way of a party wall award.
The party wall award is a legal document that governs certain aspects of the works such as timings, working hours, and potentially detail of the works.
Pre-works condition schedule
A pre-works condition schedule is required as part of a party wall award, and is considered good practice even in the event of consent. The schedule provides a record that can be referred back to in case of any damage during the works and serves to protect both parties - the person doing the work and the neighbour.
A party wall award is legally binding, however both sides will have 14 days to appeal the award in the County Court.
