Certain types of work on or near a party wall require notification of the adjoining owner, as defined by the Party Wall Act. In some cases, the adjoining owner's written consent is necessary, or a dispute may need to be resolved through a party wall award.
Notifiable works are detailed in Sections 1, 2, and 6 of the Act:
Section 1: Covers the construction of a new wall either on the boundary line (line of junction) or directly on the building owner's land but adjacent to the boundary.
Section 2: Includes work such as:
Cutting into a party wall to support a new beam (e.g., for a loft conversion)
Raising a party wall
Removing a chimney breast or other projections
Demolishing and rebuilding a party wall
Underpinning a party wall
Cutting in flashing to weatherproof the junction.
Section 6: Involves excavating foundations within 3 meters of a neighbor’s structure and below its foundation level, or within 6 meters and below a line drawn at 45° from the bottom of their foundations.
What type of work is not covered by the Party Wall Act?
Small, non-structural jobs that don’t affect the integrity of the party wall are not covered. This includes tasks like:
Drilling a hole to hang a picture
Installing shelving
Fixing plug sockets
Generally, plastering walls does not require a party wall notice, though there has been legal debate over whether plaster is considered a structural element.
The Party Wall Act is not intended to prevent the building owner from completing their work. Instead, it facilitates the process while ensuring both parties are protected and provides a mechanism for resolving disputes that could otherwise go to county court.
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