Roland Wade & Co Ltd

Chartered Surveyors, Valuers and Project Managers
 020 8123 7526

Party Wall Matters

The Party Wall etc Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring properties. It is designed to enable people to carry out the lawful development of their properties while protecting the rights and interests of their neighbours and their properties.

Party Wall matters are often seen as being onerous and overly complicated. We have many years’ experience of representing both Building Owners (the people proposing to undertake the work) and Adjoining Owners (the owners of neighbouring properties) involving a wide range of projects including simple extensions and loft conversions, the complete demolition of houses and the construction of new houses with basements and commercial developments.

If you are proposing to undertake work to an existing Party Wall or structure, excavate near an adjoining property or build a new wall along a boundary, you are obliged to serve a Party Wall Notice on the owners and leaseholders of neighbouring properties or of your own property if you live in a flat. Your neighbour can either consent to the Party Wall Notice meaning the works can go ahead as proposed or dissent to the notice which will prompt the appointment of a Party Wall Surveyor who will undertake a Schedule of Condition of the Adjoining Owner’s property and prepare a Party Wall Award specifying how and when the works will be carried out.

We work diligently to ensure that Building Owners are able to fulfil their proposed works while preserving the rights and interests of Adjoining Owners and strive to maintain good relationships between the various parties.

We provide a unique two stage Party Wall service which ensures that Building Owners fulfil their legal obligations as provisioned by The Party Wall etc Act 1996 but does not commit them to expenditure that might prove unnecessary if their neighbour/s consent to the Party Wall Notice as served.

We represent Adjoining Owners as well as Building Owners. We would always recommend that Adjoining Owners dissent to Party Wall Notices served on them and appoint their own Party Wall Surveyor to represent their sole rights and interests. Sadly, anyone can call themselves a Party Wall Surveyor and many practitioners are unqualified and unregulated. While Party Wall Notices must feature the details of a proposed Party Wall Surveyor to act in case of dissent, without proper investigation an Adjoining Owner cannot be sure they will act independently and impartially.

While our fee for acting for an Adjoining Owner is payable by the Building Owner, we never capitalise on this fact and charge the same as we would if appointed by the Building Owner in the hope of maintaining a good relationship between the two parties.

If you or your neighbours are proposing to undertake works that fall under the provisions of The Party Wall etc Act, please contact us without delay. As The Party Wall Act provisions that Party Wall Notices must be served a minimum time before works are due to commence  on site; one or two months depending on the proposed works, it is wise to serve the Party Wall Notice as soon as possible.

RICS Home Condition report RICS HomeBuyer Report (HBR) RICS Building Survey

QUICK QUOTE

Please complete the details below so we can provide you with a competitive quote

 I was impressed with your level of service and commitment to the project.

Gina Williams, New Malden, Surrey, March 2010

 Thank you so much! Brilliant!!!
‍
Veronica Duong, Wandsworth Common, April 2016

 Roland has always provided an exceptional service. He has been engaged on a couple of projects by me. The reason I keep coming back is for his honesty, advice and detailed approach during any engagement. I therefore have no hesitation to recommend his company for any job.”

Temidayo Adekanye and Uzma Bashir, Putney, June 2018

A very professional service for a highly competitive price.

Pete Dalglish, New Malden, Surrey, April 2010

You displayed excellent all round knowledge of our requirements and specific knowledge of the job. You were adept at offering alternative solutions where necessary. A very efficient, professional and courteous service. Excellent value for money.

Veronica Rochford, Streatham, London, October 2010

I used a local firm of architects to prepare drawings and submit a planning application for a side and rear extension to my house. Sadly the application was rejected. I contacted Roland Wade & Co who examined the drawings, advised on key issues, liaised with my neighbours and their contacts in the planning department of the Local Council and resubmitted the application. We got it! Construction is due to commence next month. Thanks Roland Wade & Co!

Kevin Knott, Thames Ditton, Surrey, April 2012

Roland Wade & Co was recommended to me by another firm of Chartered Surveyors. I contracted Roland Wade & Co to undertake a survey and to prepare a snagging list on my behalf. I was very impressed by the scope of the survey and their keen eye for detail. They identified numerous defects that I had missed to ensure that the project was completed to a very high standard and that I got best value from my main contractor. Having an independent firm of surveyors prepare the snagging list on my behalf also meant that the good working relationship with the main contractor was preserved.

Steve Wood, Cobham, Surrey, May 2012

Roland Wade & Co was recommended to me by a property investor friend of mine regarding submitting a planning application to extend our home. Roland Wade & Co visited the property and discussed our proposal with us to establish exactly what we wanted. I had not embarked on such a project before but Roland Wade & Co explained the planning process, what the local council was likely to permit and the constraints that they would consider that would limit my building ambitions. Roland Wade & Co prepared drawings and submitted a planning application for exactly what I wanted and just eight weeks later, the application was granted. We are very grateful to Roland Wade & Co for helping make our dream home come true and would be delighted to recommend them to anyone considering extending or refurbishing their home.
Pellumb Fazllia, Ewell, Surrey, May 2013

I had contracted the services of a RIBA accredited Architect who prepared drawings for me but sadly they did not represent my specific requirements. I contacted Roland Wade & Co and they took the time to establish my specific requirements and prepared numerous drawings that accurately depicted my proposed extension exactly as I wanted. They liaised with my local council and submitted a planning application on my behalf. Eight weeks later I got the good news that my application had been approved. Roland Wade & Co also prepared a Party Wall Notice which was served on my neighbours which they happily approved on the spot. I am now looking forward to the builders starting work and the completion of my life-changing extension. I would be delighted to recommend Roland Wade & Co to anyone considering extending their home.
Jayne Winters, Whitton, Middlesex, January 2014

We needed to gut our kitchen including installation of a new boiler and under floor heating. We needed someone who could assist with the project management of the works as well as someone who understood the fundamentals of what we were after and could advise appropriately. Roland at Roland Wade & Co performed this role excellently. From bringing in the relevant tradesman to ensuring the specification was right and documented, Roland Wade & Co oversaw the whole process. Indeed Roland, not happy with one piece of work rolled his sleeves up and corrected it himself! Overall a smooth process and would use Roland Wade & Co again.

Daniel Adams, Thames Ditton, March 2014

I am so grateful for your highly professional and such a sincere advice on the property. Also thank you ever so much for sparing your precious time to visit the property by yourself with your colleague by traveling a long way as well as talking to the estate agents, I do not know how to thank you.

Atsuko Kato, North Finchley, London, April 2014

I contacted Roland Wade & Co to act as Party Wall Surveyors relating to an single storey extension we proposed to build to provide a ground floor bathroom for an elderly and less abled resident of the borough. Roland Wade & Co were very efficient. They reviewed the proposed drawings and undertook a site visit. They spoke to the neighbours and explained what was being proposed, the purpose of the Party Wall Act and the due process involved. Roland Wade & Co prepared the relevant Party Wall Notices to comply with the Act which they hand delivered to ensure minimum delay. I envisage using Roland Wade & Co again and am happy to recommend them to anyone proposing to extend their home.
Dawood Haddadi, Private Sector Housing Manager, Elmbridge Borough Council, July 2014

Thanks for all your help Roland. I won’t hesitate to recommend you in future!

Mark Freelance, Isleworth, Middlesex, November 2017

Mr Roland Wade of Roland Wade & Co is a professional who conducts himself with kindness, honesty and integrity. I find him to be very thorough with his work to a high level of professionalism. Thank you for all your help.

Yoke Lan Palmer, Cobham, Surrey, March 2017

We would like to thank you very much for your support, your wise words and guidance through both the planning applications you have overseen for us.

Mr and Mrs Healey, Surbiton, Surrey, January 2018

We contacted Roland Wade & Co regarding a side and rear extension to our family home and were very impressed with the highly professional and client focused service. They really took the time to establish our precise requirements, suggested new ideas that we hadn’t previously considered and advised us of limitations. They submitted a planning application on our behalf, keeping us informed at each stage of the process and promptly responded to any queries we had. We got our planning permission first time around and are looking forward to the completion of our fantastic new extension.

Mr & Mrs Ross, Thames Ditton, Surrey, April 2012

A fantastic job delivered in a highly courteous manner. I was particularly impressed by your ability to foresee potential problems and the clarity with which you communicated any issues to me, not to mention your ability to come up with creative solutions.

Rob Branch, Tooting, London, SW17, November 2010