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Party Wall Agreement. Help!!

Hi

We're currently in the process of getting builders lined up for our single story extention and loft conversion. Because of the steels going in we'll need to get a party wall agreement.

The problem we have is the owner is currently seriously ill in hospital and is in no fit state to agree anything. I've spoke to a surveyor who's been lined up on behalf of our achitect and he says it'll cost £750 plus another £750 if they need to appoint surveyors on his side!!!

Is this correct? Sounds expensive

Comments

  • Annie1960
    Annie1960 Posts: 3,009 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I've just moved to a semi (having been detached previously), and am just beginning to find out about the details of party wall agreements as I want to do a small extension.

    The architect was here on Friday, and he said it would £800 plus £800 for a surveyor, so sounds like your one is cheaper.
  • pjjafc
    pjjafc Posts: 241 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hi.

    Isnt the £800 for if theres an issue though? If you issued a party wall agreement and they agreed to it within 14 days isnt it normally under £100?
  • loveka
    loveka Posts: 538 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    We are in a similar situation. Next door neighbour in hospital, no one has power of attorney. What happens in these situations when a neighbour is not in a position to agree?
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 1 June 2015 at 5:46PM
    you follow the Party Wall agreement process for when the neighbour fails to respond....

    https://www.gov.uk/party-wall-etc-act-1996-guidance#explanatory-booklet

    edit: on reviewing, I see that failure to respond leads to 'dispute' which requires each party to appoint a surveyor. Not much help if one party is in hospital and does not appoint a survyor....

    As for the costs, those assume one or more surveyors are appointed. If there is no dispute, they don't need to be.
  • princeofpounds
    princeofpounds Posts: 10,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It looks like you can appoint a surveyor to act for them if they do not appoint one:


    https://www.gov.uk/party-walls-building-works/if-you-cant-agree


    The exact procedure I don't know
  • Annie1960
    Annie1960 Posts: 3,009 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    pjjafc wrote: »
    Hi.

    Isnt the £800 for if theres an issue though? If you issued a party wall agreement and they agreed to it within 14 days isnt it normally under £100?


    I'm still learning this, but I think it has nothing to do with issues regarding the properties, it's just whether or not the neighbour agrees to the plan for the extension. If they agree the architect has given me a form for them to sign. He said this would be free. If they don't agree, then someone needs to be appointed, and I would need to pay both sets of fees ad £800 each.
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