Party Wall Matters and miscellaneous licences.

For any matters regarding Party Wall issues please contact Mark Simpson on 0208 349 5282 or email by clicking here

The Party Wall etc., Act 1996 explained:
The Party Wall Act 1996 gives you rights and responsibilities whichever side of the Party Wall you are on, i.e. whether you or a neighbour plan on doing work on a relevant structure. The Party Wall Act does not affect any requirement for Planning Permission or Building Regulation Approval for work undertaken. Likewise, having 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 subsequently 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
• Within flats the floor zone between properties maybe a party structure.
• Excavation near to a neighbouring property may require a three or six meter notice.

As with all work affecting neighbours, it is always better to reach a friendly agreement. Even where the work requires a Party Wall notice to be served, it is better to informally discuss the intended work, consider the neighbours’ comments and amend your plans (if appropriate) before serving the notice.

For more information, help or guidance on Party Wall matters or scaffolding and other licence application contact, Mark Simpson

SETTING STANDARDS:
To view an extract from part 8 of the [2008] edition of the Building Law Reports (cited [2008] BLR 507), a ground breaking ruling for Party Wall matters, as a direct result of involvement from BCS Consulting Click Here

<--The Party Wall Act can be viewed at the Office Of the Deputy Prime Minister, orclick on the crest to view online

<--A useful explanatory booklet is also available by clicking the booklet to download the .pdf

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