UK Act of Parliament 1996 United Kingdom

Party Wall Act 1996

Party Wall etc. Act 1996

What this means for your business

5 obligations
1 penalties
1 guides
Enforced by
Mining Remediation Authority, National Highways, Natural England
Applies to
United Kingdom
On this page
5 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Read full text on legislation.gov.uk

What you must do

5 compliance obligations under this legislation.

Appointments 1

Appoint surveyors and follow dispute‑resolution procedure for party‑wall work

If a disagreement arises with a neighbour about work that affects a party wall, you must put the dispute in writing and appoint a surveyor (or a pair of surveyors who will pick a third). The appointments must be signed, cannot be withdrawn, and you must cooperate with the surveyors, pay any costs they set and follow any award they make. You have a short time‑limit to act if the other side does not appoint a surveyor or if you wish to appeal the award.

Any Person s.10 Historic England When a dispute arises (or is deemed to have arisen) between a …

Management duties 1

Carry out works required by a counter notice

If an adjoining neighbour sends you a counter notice after you have served a party‑structure notice, you must carry out the works they specify (for example chimney copings, piers or deeper foundations) unless doing so would be harmful, cause unnecessary inconvenience or delay. You need to review the notice, consider any objections, and then organise the construction to meet the requirements.

Landlord/Property Owner s.4 Historic England When you receive a counter notice from an adjoining owner within one …

Payments and fees 1

Pay adjoining owner's share of party‑wall work expenses

If you own the property next to a building where party‑wall work has been carried out, you must pay the costs shown in the account that is served on you under section 13 of the Act. Until you make that payment, the building owner retains ownership of the work that was done.

Landlord/Property Owner s.14 Historic England When you receive an account for expenses under s13 of the Party …

Offences and prohibitions 1

Refuse or obstruct party wall works

Fine up to £1,000

If you occupy land or premises and you refuse to let a person carry out work they are legally entitled to under the Party Wall Act, or if you block or hinder them from doing so, you commit a criminal offence. Conviction results in a fine of up to £1,000 and the case is dealt with in the Magistrates' Court.

Any Person s.16 Planning Inspectorate

Reporting and filing 1

Provide written account of work costs to adjoining owner

When you carry out building work that an adjoining neighbour will help pay for, you must send them a written statement of the expenses within two months of finishing the work. The neighbour then has one month to object in writing; if they say nothing, they are taken to have accepted the account.

Landlord/Property Owner s.13 Historic England After completing building work whose cost is to be partly or wholly …

Penalties for non-compliance

1 penalty under this legislation.

Fine

Refuse or obstruct party wall works

Fine up to £1,000

Summary only s.16 Penalises: Refuse or obstruct party wall works

Practical guidance

Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.

Building control and Building Regulations approval

How to get Building Regulations approval for construction work - application types, competent person schemes, inspection process, and compliance certificates.

Sections and provisions

22 classified provisions from this legislation.

4 Duties 1 Offences and penalties 3 Powers 6 Definitions 1 Exemptions

Duties 4

  • s.4 Counter notices.
  • s.10 Resolution of disputes.
  • s.13 Account for work carried out.
  • s.14 Settlement of account.

Offences and penalties 1

Powers 3

  • s.8 Rights of entry.
  • s.12 Security for expenses.
  • s.21 Other statutory provisions.

Definitions 6

  • s.2 Repair etc. of party wall: rights of owner.
  • s.3 Party structure notices.
  • s.6 Adjacent excavation and construction.
  • s.7 Compensation etc.
  • s.9 Easements.
  • s.20 Interpretation. appointing officer building owner party fence wall

Exemptions 1

  • s.18 Exception in case of Temples etc.