Party Wall Surveyor East London

East London, a dynamic and culturally rich area of the capital, offers a diverse array of housing options. The region's real estate landscape perfectly blends historic allure with contemporary convenience. The historic neighbourhoods of East London, such as Shoreditch and Hackney, feature stunning Georgian and Victorian houses, often adorned with well-maintained gardens and distinctive architectural details, reflecting the area's rich heritage.

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Beyond the historic quarters, East London provides a variety of housing styles, including charming period cottages, terraced houses, and sleek modern developments. Many properties are situated amidst the vibrant urban landscape, while others provide serene retreats near the Thames or the expansive green spaces like Victoria Park. East London's housing market caters to a wide range of preferences, making it a sought-after location for those seeking a lively, character-filled, and well-connected place to call home.

Much of the housing in East London is either terraced or semi-detached, often positioned close to neighbouring properties.

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When carrying out building work close to the boundary or on a party wall in East London, the Party Wall Act may apply. For example, if you are planning a loft conversion, it's common for steel beams to be integrated into the party wall along with padstones or steel bearing plates. It is also common to raise the party wall, often in timber frame with vertical tile hanging or other types of cladding, which may require stripping off roof tiles to build a dormer. These situations necessitate serving a party wall notice to your neighbor.

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Another frequent building project in East London is adding an extension either to the rear or the side of a property. Let’s start with the foundations. If they will be deeper than your neighbor's foundations and within 3 meters of them, you will need to serve a Section 6 Party Wall Excavation Notice one month before you intend to commence work. This notice must be accompanied by a plan and section drawing of the excavation and the walls that will be built on top of it.

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If the extension will be built up to the boundary, or as the Party Wall Act refers to it, the line of junction, there are two options. The wall can either be built astride the boundary, or on the building owner's side but up to the boundary. You cannot build a party wall astride the boundary without your neighbor's permission. You would serve a Section 1(2) notice on them, but if they dissent or do not reply, you would have to build the wall on your side of the boundary.

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You may choose to serve just a Section 1(5) notice to build on your side of the boundary. In this case, if the neighbour does not reply, there is no automatic dissent, and you can proceed with the construction on your land.

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When a neighbor dissents to a notice, both parties must appoint a party wall surveyor to resolve the issue under the Party Wall Act. Typically, the surveyor or surveyors will visit the adjoining property to take a schedule of condition and then serve a party wall award on both neighbours.

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For smaller projects, such as domestic ones mentioned above, it’s often enough to appoint one surveyor as the agreed surveyor for both parties. However, for more complex projects, especially those involving basements, you may want to appoint two surveyors, one for each party.

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Whenever two surveyors are appointed, a third surveyor, who is more experienced, must be selected by the two surveyors. This third surveyor often remains unaware of their selection unless called upon by one of the surveyors or the homeowners to resolve a dispute that the initial two surveyors cannot resolve on their own.

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If you are planning building work near your boundary and your property is in East London, feel free to contact Bluegrass Surveying as your local party wall surveyors. They can provide free and impartial help and advice, serve party wall notices for you, and act as your party wall surveyor should it be necessary.