Party wall agreement

SGE1

We've just got planning permission for an extension up against a party wall we share with our neighbour. She's said she's completely fine with our plans (she's extended up to the party wall already herself so hard for her to argue against us doing the same); but she's said she's a bit concerned that there'll be a lot of structural weight on the wall, and so has asked us to have a party wall survey done.

I've spent a bit of time googling this; it sounds like we need her agreement for the work (and I was pretty much ready to print off and give her the standard party wall notice template from the gov.uk website); but all the references to appointing a surveyor and getting a survey done seem to be based on there being some sort of dispute between neighbours, and the job of the surveyor as arbiter between the two parties.

I don't think that's the position we're in - I think we basically just need someone to confirm that it's safe to load up the wall in the way we're planning to (and we'll be appointing a structural engineer to do the calculations - which I'm assuming will cover that); and perhaps someone to inspect her property to see what sort of state it's in, so that there's a shared understanding of the 'before' and 'after' situation in the unlikely event that there does end up being some damage.

Has anyone ever had a party wall survey done? Do we need one in the scenario I've described, i.e it's not just a dispute resolution mechanism, or is there some other process that would suit us better?

And thinking about the worst case scenario - our builders !!!!!! the wall up and damage her property - what happens then? Presumably our builders' insurance sorts it out?

Thanks for any advice

zoothornrollo_2

SGE1 wrote: »

all the references to appointing a surveyor and getting a survey done seem to be based on there being some sort of dispute between neighbours, and the job of the surveyor as arbiter between the two parties.

No that's not the case but you've probably got that impression because of the legal language used around PWAs, like 'dissent'.
Basically, unless you want to do it yourself, you need to appoint a chartered surveyor to serve the notice.
If, as seems likely, she consents to the work the only question is whether she is happy to use your chartered surveyor or appoint her own, which you will have to pay for, so the former is obviously preferable.
If you have a good relationship it seems unlikely she would insist on your paying for a second surveyor.
I got ripped off for our PWA - don't go to a 'PWA specialist' they are likely to be extortionately expensive - and only necessary for big, complicated works like huge basement excavations etc etc.
Just phone around and go for the cheapest fee you can find.
It's money for old rope.

teneighty

"concerned that there'll be a lot of structural weight on the wall"

I don't understand, why would building an extension cause extra weight on the party wall? Perhaps you could clarify what the neighbour is worried about.

Generally you can have a party wall agreement drawn up without the neighbour dissenting to the notice. Probably around £500 for something simple.

DTDfanBoy

teneighty wrote: »

"concerned that there'll be a lot of structural weight on the wall"

I don't understand, why would building an extension cause extra weight on the party wall? Perhaps you could clarify what the neighbour is worried about.

Presumably the OP is planning on having a roof fitted to their extension