Staying put? Here's why you still need a party wall agreement

The sales market has been sluggish for a while now, with sellers cutting asking prices to tempt cautious buyers off the fence. On top of that, news outlets like the BBC are reporting that gazundering, where a buyer lowers their offer just before exchange, has made an unwelcome return, adding yet another reason for people to think twice before putting their home up for sale. Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street this July adds a further layer of uncertainty over exactly how and when the government's promised reforms to gazumping and gazundering will land.

Given all that, it is no surprise that more homeowners are choosing to stay put and extend rather than sell, provided the right planning consents are in place and the work does not fall foul of building regulations. But an extension brings its own piece of paperwork that is easy to overlook: the party wall agreement.

A party wall is any wall, floor or other structure shared between you and a neighbour. That covers more than the obvious dividing wall between two houses, it also includes shared ceilings and floors between flats, and garden structures that sit on a boundary.

If your renovation touches, cuts into, or sits near one of these, you will likely need a party wall agreement before work starts. This legal document, governed by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, confirms your neighbour has been properly notified of the plans and sets out how the work will be carried out, including working hours, access arrangements, and a record of the adjoining property's condition before you begin. All affected parties sign it, and it protects everyone if a dispute arises once work is underway.

We have covered the full process, including notice periods and what happens if a neighbour objects, in an earlier guide, worth a read before you serve notice.

If you are buying rather than extending, your conveyancing solicitor will identify any existing party walls and agreements tied to the property, and a chartered surveyor will flag anything relevant for the solicitor to follow up on. But the same logic applies if you are staying put and building: understanding the condition of your own property, and your neighbour's shared structures, before work starts saves a great deal of grief later.

Either way, talking to a RICS-accredited surveyor early is worth the peace of mind, whether that means confirming what you are buying is sound, or making sure your extension does not land you in a dispute with next door.

At Surveyor Local, we only work with chartered surveyors who are RICS members, so the survey you get is always delivered to a proper professional standard, including checks for issues like previous flooding that could affect the structure.

Call us on   for a no-obligation chat about your plans, or get a quick quote online in a couple of minutes.