Question If a notice has been served but before the building party has appointed a surveyor, it is withdrawn by the building party, who is liable for the costs of the surveyor appointed by the adjoining owner? Answer It makes a pleasant change to get a nice to get a short question! Unfortunately the answer is not quite so short.  If the ... Read more >>

Question We have an end of terrace property. In our back garden we have a large brick wall to the left of the property which is gradually leaning further and further. The part of the wall that is leaning forms the end of two gardens to the left of us (hope this is making sense?!) My question is (as there is nothing specific on our title deed) is ... Read more >>

Question I am in the process of selling my semi-detached property. I had a conservatory constructed in September 2008, with one of the conservatory walls being the outside wall of my neighbour's house (the party wall in question). We are already attached to this neighbour with our lounge wall and the conservatory is just an extension of this. ... Read more >>

Question We live in a mid-terrace, and have submitted plans for a kitchen extension. This kitchen extension will go along our neighbour’s wall (he’s already extended his kitchen). In accordance with the party wall act, we sent a letter outlining the works, including a copy of the plans. On the plans, the architects name is shown. It turns out ... Read more >>

Question Our property is over 200 years old. Before we bought the property, and obviously before there was such strict planning laws, a large commercial building, currently being used as a garage, was built. The side wall of the commercial building is very close, probably about a couple of foot, to the back wall of our property. The building ... Read more >>

Question Planning permission has been granted and work has commenced on the detached property adjoining ours. Although we were aware of the planning application and consent, we were not notified that work would commence. The work so far has entailed removing an old extension which formed the boundary between the two properties, and the next stage ... Read more >>

Question My neighbour issued a Party Wall Line of Junction Notice to build a rear extension on the boundary.  I believe the notice was invalid as there were no plans/drawings provided as well as the proposed date was less that 7 from the date the letter was issued.   We responded stating that we could not sign any agreement, listed some ... Read more >>

Question Our neighbour wants to reduce the height of the wall that separates our garden and theirs. The buttresses of the wall are on their side. Does this mean that they own the wall and can do what they like? Do we have any say? The wall has been there for more than a hundred years. If you could shed any light on the situation I'd be really ... Read more >>

Question I live in a Victorian terraced house in London.  My neighbours are proposing to extend their kitchen into their back garden using a party wall recently built by us for a similar extension.  He has not issued me with a notice that this is his intention, but I have been advised by their builder that they intend to start work soon.  ... Read more >>

Question We are being bullied by our neighbour who has got planning permission to build in his back garden. To do this he has to lower the party wall by about a metre between our driveways  to satisfy the local highways. If I do not want the wall lowering do I have to agree with this. If not what action should I be taking before it is ... Read more >>