Party Wall Act - Minor loft works

davejuk_2

I would like to use the loft of my Victorian mid-terrace as storage. I have a lot of heavy stuff to go up there so unfortunately I can't just put tongue n groove chipboard down - I need to strengthen the entire floor first. (N.B. It's not meant to be a full loft conversion or even a habitable room, just extra storage space)

I have had a quote from a reputable loft conversion specialist which I am happy to proceed with. They have sent me the contract to sign and their terms of business. In the terms it says that it is my responsibility to obtain approvals as required by the Party Wall Act. This is the first I had heard of this act.

I have pasted the description of the works below;

[FONT=&quot]I'm pleased to confirm our cost of £1,830.00 + vat for installing a suspended floor structure within your loft space.[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]A brief description of the work is as follows:-[/FONT]

• [FONT=&quot]Supply & fit 2no steel beams to loft space spanning between party walls.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]Install 50mm x 125mm softwood floor joists between the steel beams, fix noggins & strap up existing ceilings joists.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]Insulate with 100mm mineral-wool loft insulation.[/FONT]
• [FONT=&quot]Cover new floor area with 18mm tongue & grooved chipboard flooring.[/FONT]

On one side I have a nice family. On the other side I have a student let, which is managed by a letting company on behalf of the owner.

One of the students gave me the name of the letting company. I found their web site and telephone number and gave them a call. When I said it was with regard to the Party Wall Act they put me through to another guy, who happened to be in accounts.

He gave me the name of the owner but refused to give me his address or telephone number. He insisted that any paperwork was sent to the company address marked on behalf of the owner.

He then went on to tell me that they would require a "Schedule Of Condition" to document the condition of the party wall before the work started, which would be part of a "Party Wall Award". There would also be a follow up inspection. He told me that this would cost around £1,000 from a surveyor but he had done them in the past and could do it for £400 incl. VAT. Sounds fishy to me.

He was also talking about plans - it's a pretty minor job and plans would massively increase the cost.

Having read the government explanatory booklet on the act, I'm half tempted to just go ahead with the work without jumping through all these hoops, but that wouldn't be a very neighbourly thing to do.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/partywall

I understand that I have the right to cut into a wall to take the bearing of a beam, which is all I need to do.

I have everything I need to serve the notice but then what? I can't see them signing it - why would they? It doesn't benefit them in any way.

If they don't do anything, can I just wait the 2 months and get started?

If I have to get plans done and a load of surveyors and solicitors involved it's not going to be worth doing.