Confused in Choosing a Party Wall Surveyor for your Party Wall Matters?

Today, in this blog post we are looking at a decision that every single building owner or adjoining owner will find themselves faced with;

“How to choose a Party Wall Surveyor?”

When considering this question, it is important to briefly refer back to the Party Wall etc Act 1996 and in particular, Section 20 which defines a “Surveyor” as:

“surveyor” means any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under section 10 to determine disputes in accordance with the procedures set out in this Act.

What is important to note here is that the definition itself is actually incredibly loose, with the only real stipulation being that the “surveyor” isn’t the building owner or the adjoining owner.

Let Me Make It Easy To Understand

It means that anyone can be a Party Wall Surveyor, irrespective of their qualification, property background or experience! Which brings us onto the topic of this blog post, we are going to highlight some of the key characteristics that we believe a Party Wall Surveyor should must have.

A Party Wall Surveyor’s Experience

You should ensure that your Party Wall Surveyor is not only experienced in the procedures of the Party Wall etc Act 1996 but also the is familiar in construction works that are taking place on site and the properties to which they are taking place.

The types of work that are covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 will often carry with them a significant structural risk to the surrounding properties. It goes without saying that the more experienced a Party Wall Surveyor is, the more likely he or she will be able to administer the Act to mitigate and reduce those risks.

How much your Party Wall Surveyor is Familiar with Construction Works?

You should ensure that your Party Wall Surveyor has a firm understanding of the construction works that are taking place on site. More often than not, construction works can be complex requiring the input of structural engineers, contractors, scaffolders and advising engineers.

The more experience the Party Wall Surveyor has for the types of work taking place, the better placed they will be able to assist.

It is also worth bearing in mind, that you should also actively ask for the Party Wall Surveyor’s strategy and procedures in Party Wall Notice Service, undertaking the Schedule of Condition Reports and also agreeing the Party Wall Awards. These will all play a big role in the onward procedures so be sure to check they best suit your time frame and objective.

Explore the full blog at Choosing a Party Wall Surveyor .