Party Wall Project – Purves Road, London

A domestic project typical of the area where Victorian properties with rear additions undertake the following work:

1. Rear/side infill extension building up to the boundary and involving excavations.
2. Substantial internal alterations directly affecting the adjoining party walls.
3. Loft conversion including raising the party wall at roof level.

Working closely with the Architect and project Engineer, notices under sections 1, 3 and 6 were all served. In this instance, the adjoining owners appointed their own surveyors and a number of formal Party Wall Awards were served following site visits to each property and their condition recorded in the form of a schedule of condition survey.

The completion of the Party Wall Awards ensured that the building owner undertaking the works, had met their statutory duties and benefitted from rights the Act provides. The main benefit being the provision of a right of access on and over a neighbour’s land to construct certain parts of the works e.g. the notifiable works under the Act.

Upon project completion, the surveyors returned to the adjoining owners’ properties to ensure all was in order and then closed their files.

Following the party wall process correctly is fundamental and is more commonly being checked by solicitors when properties are being sold. The Act is their to provide additional rights not enjoyed under common law and will safeguard the interests of the parties involved.