How Will the Party Wall Act Affect the Installation of My Conservatory?
Why you can't just go ahead and build your conservatory
Occasionally you'll notice a news story in regards to a property dispute between neighbours. This can be anything from the height of a hedge between them to the building of a conservatory. For anyone who is considering the latter, be familiar with the Party Wall Act 1996. Making sure you refer to this before building can save a lot of hassle later. Here's a quick guide to the key points...
What is it?
The Party Wall Act 1996 regulates everything you can and cannot do when building either on section of, or close to, a neighbour's property. You need to refer to it if you are planning to build a conservatory which would involve:
? an existing wall or structure shared with another property
? a free of charge standing wall around or astride the boundary to your neighbour's property
? excavating near a neighbouring building to build your foundations
The fence that's not actually a fence
The word Party Wall Fence actually identifies a wall which doesn't form part of a building but does straddle the boundary between you and your neighbour. If you are planning to build from this, or excavate within three metres of it, there's action you need to take.
An important notice
At least 8 weeks before work starts, you must give your neighbour the official notice, containing information such as for example:
? name, address, and owners of the property
? statement that it's being served beneath the terms of this act
? complete description and proposed start date of work
? Learn here of serving the notice
? what happens when there is a dispute
Just having a chat with your neighbour isn't sufficient. They can agree to work starting earlier, but don't have to. Your builder or architect, making use of their experience, should cope with this for you. Your neighbours have 14 days to give written permission or register dissent. If they don't reply, you proceed to...
A Party Wall Dispute
A surveyor or surveyors is appointed to find out a fair and impartial award. Each party can appoint their own or agree to just one single. After the making of an award, if this doesn't settle the dispute, all parties can interest a County Court.
Once agreement is reached
All work must adhere to the notice. Keep Learn more here ; if you later sell the property, a prospective owner may wish to check it.
Final words
This can be a very basic guide. There's greater detail in a free of charge 42-page booklet from the Department for Communities and MUNICIPALITY. If all this seems a headache, it's surely infinitely better the alternative!
Ultraframe are specialist designers and manufacturers of conservatories and orangeries