LondonParty Wall Act Guidance
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 ("the Act") came into force on 1 July 1997 throughout England and Wales. If you intend to carry out building work which involves one of the following categories:
- work on an existing wall or structure shared with another property (section 2 of the Act)
- building a free standing wall or a wall of a building up to or astride the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1 of the Act)
- excavating near a neighbouring building (section 6 of the Act)
Party Wall Agreement and Notice Forms
It is your responsibility, not the Local Authorities, to find out whether that work falls within the Act and whether you need a party wall agreement. If it does, you must notify all affected neighbours, you may wish to appoint a Party Wall Surveyor experienced in Party Wall matters. To see the text of the Act please click the link on the right.
These pages, are based on the governments' explanatory booklet and aim to explain simply how the Act may affect someone who either wishes to carry out work covered by the Act (the "building owner") or receives notification under the Act of planned work (the "adjoining owner").
General Guidance
Work on Existing Party Walls
Building on The Boundary Line
Excavation Near Neighbours
Questions About the Act
