Rights of Owners

Question We are planning for work to start on a rear extension to our house within the next few weeks.  We are extending within the limits of permitted development rights (3m out) and the drawings show our wall being within our boundary.  We've got a lawful development certificate and building reg approval. Now however our neighbours ... Read more >>

Question We own a semi detached property which we currently rent out.  Our plans have been approved so we have permission to extend - 120cm along the front, 300cm along the back, and to build over the garage.  We have served party wall act notices to our neighbours - 3m notice to both, line of junction notice to both, and party structure notice ... Read more >>

Question Could you advise me what sort of qualifications a party wall surveyor should have? We are "in dispute" with our neighbour but have said we would accept the appointment of an agreed party wall surveyor. My neighbour's builder has suggested the appointment of a local man who called at the house and offered his services. His business card ... Read more >>

Question We are presently in dispute with our neighbour re proposed foundations to a new extension on our property. The Party Wall Notice has been issued and two surveyors are in the process of drawing up the Award which we expect by the end of the week. However our neighbour has rightly pointed out that they have 14 days to appeal against the ... Read more >>

Question Some building works are about to start on a domestic property. The property is semi-detached with a pair of garages attaching the property on the detached side (now making this a linked house). All the houses are built on the same line, so none of the properties extend beyond the other, unless they have done an extension..In this case, ... Read more >>

Question I live in a mid-terrace house, and am looking to knock out the internal wall that separates the sitting and dining rooms. My structural engineer has advised two options. One is that we can replace the wall with an RSJ which will be supported within the party wall. This is the neatest solution, however my neghbours are causing ... Read more >>

Question Some time ago (approx September 2008) my neighbour had some work done on the adjoining semidetached property to mine, employing a firm of builders, although the work came under the party wall act, he did not serve me notice at the time, but just went ahead and did the work. The work he did included re-roofing his property which meant he ... Read more >>

Question Our neighbour  wishes to build a kitchen extension making use of the party wall with our house. They have asked us to sign a party wall agreement, the text of which is: We are intending to commence construction work on our property, in the form of a side return and rear kitchen extension as of November 2009. This work will include using ... Read more >>

Question I served my neighbour with a party wall notice in early 2008 for a loft conversion. It was not agreed, as they did not want the dormer to be joined to their own existing dormer. The work did not commence until September 2009 and is now complete. My project manager began the work without a signed party wall agreement, thinking he had a ... Read more >>

Question We own a semi detached house which is let to a tenant.  The adjoining neighbours want to undertake some work including a new kitchen in the rear extension. Both houses have the rear extension but I have no idea which was built first as they both seem to have been in place for many years.  Their builder has advised that the extension's ... Read more >>