Party wall
In addition to carrying out residential detailed building surveys, at Tayross Associates we also carry out commercial detailed building surveys in London and the surrounding areas. A commercial detailed building survey is a report which provides a thorough examination of the structure, its overall condition and a visual examination of the services.
The surveys are particularly useful in the short-term to negotiate rent, the purchase price or terms as well as in the long-term identifying future potential maintenance issues and any additional investigations required. In the first instance, we would discuss with you what your requirements are for the property, its proposed use so that the report can be tailored to your needs.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996
The Party Wall Act offers measures to protect your interests and prevent disputes between neighbours over building work taking place near to, or affecting party walls and boundaries. I can help you access those preventive measures.
The Party Wall Act was brought into force to reduce the number of building disputes and court cases arising out of neighbours falling out over building works. A breach of the Act can give rise to payments of compensation or an injunction.
Please click here for an introductory guide to the Party Wall process.
How We Help You
I am professionally qualified with 25 years experience of Planning, Building and Surveying related matters. I'm aptly qualified to act as a Party Wall Surveyor in matters relating to the awarding and participation in Party Wall Agreements.
I am a full professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building for which I currently sit on the CIOB Professional Conduct Committee / Investigations Panel. This Committee / Panel are responsible for upholding the disciplinary regulations and rules of conduct of the Institute and investigate any cases of alleged misconduct by members.
I also sit on the Disciplinary Board for the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors for the upholding of codes of conduct and am actively involved in organising the West London Party Wall forum group set up to debate current thinking on the Act and application between its members at public venues.
My chief objective: is to defuse the tension where present and bring harmony to the whole process.
The Act sets out a framework of equitable rights and obligations to ensure that care is taken by builders and access is not unreasonably denied to them. If you or your neighbour proposes to carry out works, the Act sets out what needs to be done to safeguard your property. If you are the owner carrying out the works, compliance with the Act secures the access you need and limit any future claims for damage claimed to have been caused to your neighbour's property as a result of these.
The reasonable costs of regulation under the Act, including any professional fees, are normally for the account of the building owner.
As a fully accredited Party Wall Surveyor I can help to establish clarity and fairness and to avoid disputes by:-
- Mitigating delays by timely serving of notices and determine/agree start of works and working hours for Party Wall matters.
- Agree access to boundary / party wall for building work.
- Reduce the potential for selling problems in the future.
Once building works commence it can be too late to invoke this Act, so acting today will safeguard tomorrow.
Call now or email me any concerns you may have. If you are unfamiliar with the Party Wall process, we have prepared a free Party Wall Guide which gives you an introduction as to how the process works. Within this guide we discuss:
- 1. What the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is
- 2. The multiple definitions of a Party Wall
- 3. Flow chart of the Party Wall process
- 4. Party Wall Notices
- 5. Party Wall Awards
- 6. Schedules of Condition
- 7. Surveyor's fees
If after reading this guide you have any questions, then please feel free to contact us at our Pinner office on 020 8426 1448.
Click here to download your free Party Wall guide
