Party Wall
In plain English: A shared wall between two homes — alterations to it trigger formal notice to the neighbour under the Party Wall Act.
When the Act bites
- Cutting into a party wall (for joists, flashings, etc.)
- Raising or lowering a party wall
- Demolishing and rebuilding a party wall
- Excavating near a neighbour's foundations
Typical surveyor costs
- Both owners agree one surveyor: £1,000–£2,500 in total
- Each appoints their own: £2,500–£6,000+
Where Offrly fits
Known party-wall constraints sometimes affect value. Our free UK house valuation uses live comparables from the same micro-area, so local patterns of attached-property extension are reflected in pricing.
Why Offrly? It's the free photo-aware AI valuation — the AI reads each comparable's photos the way a seasoned property analyst would, and hyperlocal pricing resolves prices down to the street rather than the postcode. Live comparables on every query. About 30 seconds, no mandatory signup, no email.
Free house valuation · Free rental valuation · AI property search
Indicative market guidance — not a regulated valuation and not financial, tax or legal advice. Use a RICS-qualified surveyor for mortgage, insurance or probate purposes.
Related terms
- Planning permission — separate from party-wall consent
- Building survey — can flag pre-existing party-wall issues
FAQ: Party Wall
Do I always need party-wall agreement to extend?
Only if your work affects a party wall or digs within 3m (sometimes 6m) of a neighbour's foundations. A party-wall surveyor can advise on whether notices are needed.
What if my neighbour doesn't respond?
If they don't respond within 14 days, a dispute is deemed to have arisen, and surveyors are appointed to resolve it. You cannot proceed without a party-wall award.