A Beginner’s Guide to Party Walls.
It's not unusual to want to remodel your home. Things come in and out of style. You may feel your style has changed, or you knew when you moved in that the home wasn't perfect. No home is truly ever perfect. Sometimes, however, you can't just start knocking down walls to make the change you want. You might find yourself searching for party wall surveyors Brighton when you decide to update your home, depending on the type of work being completed.
Wait a Minute? What is a party wall?
Why would you be looking for party wall surveyors Worthing if you do not even understand what a party wall is? Let's start with what it's not. A party wall is not a wall that you party on. If you live in a home that has a shared wall, or walls, with others; the wall that attaches the two homes together are called party walls. These walls typically separate the physical building owned by different people. Party walls do not have to be just the walls in your home. They can include garden walls, which are also called party fence walls.
In 1996 the Party Wall etc Act was born. This act provides an outline for how disputes related to these boundaries with neighboring properties should be handled. If the type of work you are considering falls under the Party Wall etc Act, you must give your neighbor two months' notice, at minimum, of the work you are planning regarding the party wall. Party wall notices must be sent to your neighbor at least one month before work begins if you are planning an excavation near the wall.
When do I need an agreement?
There is still some work you can do to your home without telling your neighbor. If you want to remodel your bathroom and it is not going to effect the party wall. Go for it. However, if you plan on doing other types of works, you may find yourself in need of a party wall agreement. If you want to complete a loft conversion and it involves cutting into a wall to remove the bearing, you'll need to talk to your neighbor. Some other things that would have you looking for party wall surveyors Eastbourne are inserting a course that is damp proof (regardless if it is on your side of the wall), if you decide you want to raise a party wall if you want to rebuild or demolish the party wall if you to put underpinning on all or part of the party wall., if you decide that you want to weather the adjoining walls by cutting a flashing into the connected building, if you decide to excavate a foundation that is located within three meters of your neighbors' structure, or you decide to build a new wall on the land between the properties.
Ok, I've given notice, now what?
You've let your neighbor know your intentions, but what comes next? The adjoining owners (your neighbors) have fourteen days to reply. If they do not consent to the construction, this means if they say no or do not reply, you have a dispute on your hands. At this point, the process of obtaining a party wall agreement can start to become overwhelming. It's now time to decide if you and the adjoining owners can agree on whether a single party wall surveyor will be able to represent you both or if multiple party wall surveyors Croydon will be needed. The surveyors are the ones involved in the process of drawing up an award document that spells out the guidelines that must be followed while your work is being carried out.
It's important to find party wall surveyors Crawley that are impartial, unbiased, and will be fair in their judgment and decision making. Specialists firms make it their business to handle these tasks fairly. BTN Surveyors is a firm that covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Croydon. Contact them today for more information questions, or advice on your project.