The Party Wall Act 1996
The Party Wall Act 1996 is a piece of legislation that relates to works carried out on party walls and structures, which include walls, floors, and ceilings shared with adjoining properties. When it comes to a loft conversion, the act may apply when the conversion work involves altering or extending a party wall.
The act requires that anyone who wishes to carry out work that may affect a party wall must serve notice to their neighbours. This notice must include details of the proposed works and provide sufficient information to allow the neighbour to understand the scope of the work and how it may affect their property.
The notice should be served at least two months before the planned start of work. In response, the neighbour has the right to either consent to the works or dissent. If the neighbour dissents, a party wall surveyor will need to be appointed to prepare a party wall award, which will outline the conditions for carrying out the work.
In the case of a loft conversion, the Party Wall Act may apply when the work involves:
- Cutting into or altering the party wall between properties.
- Building a new wall adjacent to a party wall.
- Excavating for new foundations within 3 metres of a neighbouring property, or within 6 metres if the excavation will go below the level of the neighbour’s foundations.
The Party Wall Act is designed to protect both property owners and their neighbours during the construction process, ensuring that any disputes are resolved fairly and in a timely manner. Failure to comply with the act can result in legal action and financial penalties. Therefore, it’s essential to seek professional advice from us or a qualified architect or surveyor who has experience in dealing with the Party Wall Act when undertaking a loft conversion.
Generally, the Party Wall Act 1996 applies only to terraced and semi-detached houses where a shared wall with adjoining neighbour(s) exists. Before beginning any work, an agreement is required for the party wall, and we provide all the necessary Party Wall Act forms to be signed by your adjoining neighbour(s).
To reduce costs, THE Loft Conversion Company (Portsmouth) Ltd can conduct a party wall inspection instead of hiring a chartered surveyor to perform a party wall survey. However, the neighbour(s) must agree to this alternative approach.
To book an appointment to carry out a Party Wall inspection follow this link.
For more information click on the link below to read The Party Wall Act 1996 Booklet:-
The booklet has been produced by the Communities & Local Government Department to explain in simple terms how the Party Wall Act 1996 (“the Act”) may affect someone who either wishes to carry out work covered by the Act (the “Building Owner”), or receives notification under the Act of proposed adjacent work (the “Adjoining Owner”).
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