The Party Wall Act, explained for home owners

Planning an extension, a loft conversion or a basement? Or is the house next door about to have one? Find out how the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 affects you, in plain English.

I'm planning building work

Find out whether the Act applies to your project, what it will cost and how long it adds to your timetable.

Guides for building owners

My neighbour is building

Understand your rights, who pays for what, and how your home is protected while the work goes on.

Guides for neighbours

Does the Act apply?

Choose the type of work for a first answer. The full checker has examples of what is and is not covered.

Quick check

What work is planned?

The Act in four points

England and WalesThe Act applies to both, but not to Scotland or Northern Ireland
Three kinds of workNew walls at the boundary, work to shared walls, and digging near foundations
Notice comes firstOne or two months before work starts, depending on the work
Surveyors settle disputesThrough an award both owners must follow

Start with the basics

The Party Wall Act explained simplyWhat the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is for, what it covers, how the process works and why it exists, in plain English.
What counts as a party wall?The difference between a party wall, a party fence wall and a party structure, with everyday examples from houses and flats.
The 3-metre and 6-metre rulesWhen digging near a neighbour needs a party wall notice. The 3-metre and 6-metre rules explained with simple examples and a diagram.
Party wall glossary: terms explainedPlain-English definitions of the terms used in party wall matters, from adjoining owner and award to third surveyor and schedule of condition.
The Party Wall Act, section by sectionAll 22 sections in plain English, with links to the official text.
Who owns a party wall?Ownership, support, repairs, and what the deeds can and cannot tell you.
Party walls, planning permission and building regulationsThree separate systems, and the order to deal with them.
Ten party wall myths, correctedThe misunderstandings that cause the most worry, put right.
Party walls in semi-detached and terraced housesWhat you share with next door, and the jobs that usually need notice.
Listed buildings, conservation areas and party wallsExtra permissions, the same party wall rules.
Can my neighbour fix things to the party wall?Shelves and brackets are usually fine; cutting and loading are not.
Does the Party Wall Act apply to my work?A free check of whether your building work, or your neighbour's, falls under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, with examples of what is and isn't covered.

For building owners

Does my extension need the Party Wall Act?How to tell whether your extension needs party wall notices: where it sits, how deep the foundations go and whether it touches a shared wall.
Loft conversions and party wallsWhy most loft conversions in terraced and semi-detached houses need a party structure notice, what work is involved and how to keep the project on time.
Rear and side extensions and party wallsHow party wall rules apply to rear and side return extensions, from boundary walls and foundations to building against a neighbour's existing wall.
Basements and underpinning: the party wall positionWhy basement and underpinning projects are the most heavily regulated under the Party Wall Act, and what to expect from the notices, award and monitoring.
Kitchen refits and chimney breast removalWhen internal work such as removing a chimney breast or knocking through a kitchen becomes notifiable under the Party Wall Act, and when it does not.
How much does the party wall process cost?A breakdown of party wall costs for building owners: notices, schedules of condition, awards and the neighbour's surveyor, with typical fixed fees.
How long does the party wall process take?A realistic party wall timeline from first notice to start on site, and how to stop it delaying your building project.
What if I build without following the Act?What can happen if you start notifiable building work without serving a party wall notice, from injunctions to damage claims and problems when you sell.
Steel beams and padstones in a party wallRSJs for knock-throughs and lofts, and why they need notice.
Soundproofing a party wall: is a notice needed?Usually not, unless the work cuts into or loads the wall.
Damp proofing a party wallThe Act names damp proof courses specifically.
Garage conversions and the Party Wall ActShared garage walls, new footings and building over.
Conservatories and orangeries near the boundaryTreated like any other extension under the Act.
Removing or rebuilding a shared chimney stackShared flues, weathering and what to agree before work starts.
When there is no party wall in the loftGaps between lofts: fire, security, and who pays to close them.
Demolishing next to a neighbour: exposed walls and weatheringKeeping a shared wall stable and dry once your side has gone.

For neighbours

My neighbour is building. What are my rights?The rights the Party Wall Act gives you when a neighbour is extending, converting a loft or digging a basement, and what it cannot do.
Can my neighbour come onto my property?When the Party Wall Act lets a neighbour, their builders and surveyors enter your land, how much notice they must give and how you are protected.
Who pays for what? Repairs, damage and shared wallsWho pays for damage, repairs and shared wall work under the Party Wall Act, and when a neighbour might have to contribute.
Living next to building workPractical advice for living next to a neighbour's extension or loft conversion: noise, dust, working hours and what to do if something goes wrong.
My neighbour started work without telling meWhat to do if your neighbour has started building work that should have needed a party wall notice: the steps to take and your legal options.
Can my neighbour build against my wall?Enclosing, cutting into and flashing into your wall.
Your neighbour's loft conversion: what to expectNotices, beams, noise, and the protections you have.
Your neighbour's extension: what to expectBoundary walls, foundations near your house, and what to ask for.

Who writes these guides

Ivan Larkin ACABE MFPWS MPTS is a practising party wall surveyor. Before that he spent more than 37 years building homes and extensions, much of it as an LABC and NHBC registered builder, so he knows how the work these guides describe is actually done. More about Ivan.

More guides by Ivan

About Party Wall Notices: serving a notice, or answering one
About Party Wall Agreements: awards, surveyors and what to do about damage