Party Wall Matters : Being fully conversant, with the Party Wall etc Act, legislation, we have advised Developers and represented Building owners, Adjoining Owners and Adjoining Occupiers on projects from domestic extensions to major Developments.

The Party Wall Act etc. 1996 and became enforcable law in 1997.  This gives you rights and responsibilities whichever the side of the 'wall' you are on, i.e. whether you are planning to undertake work on a relevant structure or if your neighbour intends to do so.  Whilst the Party Wall Act does not affect any requirement for Planning Permission or Building Regulation Approval for the proposed works, just because you have Planning Permission and/or Building Regulation Approval does not negate the requirements under the Party Wall Act.

The Party Wall Act comes into effect if someone is planning to do work on a relevant structure, for the purposes of the Act 'party wall' does not just mean the wall between two semi-detached properties, it covers:

• A wall forming part of only one building but which is on the boundary line between two (or more) properties.
• A wall which is common to two (or more) properties, this includes where someone built a wall and a neighbour subsequent built something butting up to it.
• A garden wall, where the wall is astride the boundary line (or butts up against it) and is used to separate the properties but is not part of any building.
• Floors and ceilings of flats etc.
• Excavation near to a neighbouring property.