{text removed by MSE Forum Team} party wall

Richardhapton

I have received some speculative letters surrounding the party wall act as my neighbours are doing and extension. After doing some research Adele Bonham from bonham surveyors has been a director of two other party wall company's in the last five years Simon Bonham Limited and Phillips & Locke both are now dissolved companies but Phillips and Locke sent me a letter to looking at there website they trade as Surveys For London Ltd

Can I trust any of these people?

Doozergirl

I'd be more comfortable contacting a company directly if and when the time comes. Why should you trust those people just because they contact you? If you don't like what you see on Companies House, don't use them. There are plenty of reputable surveyors.

There are stories of ambulance chasing type companies who charge extortionate fees, ask unecessary questions, racking up the hours on their fees as they go. Whilst this work is being carried out by your neighbours and the cost borne by them, there's no reason why you need a separate PWS straight from the off when your neighbours haven't even served notice yet.

You have a choice as to whether you dissent at all when they do serve notice. You can also use the same PWS. It isn't rocket science and no neighbour is going to deliberately set out to cause damage.

Ultimately, the PWA is to assess condition, agree the methods used, compensate you if building off a party wall that belongs to and was paid for by you and agree that any damage will be rectified. There's a lot of common sense involved, there doesn't have to be dispute.

Is the extension to affect the party wall hugely?

Richardhapton

We don't even share a wall with a neighbour. But I do you want to protect my property from any damage that could be caused. Will my home insurance be enough?

Doozergirl

You don't share a wall? How far is this extension from your house?

Richardhapton

I don't know.

Doozergirl

The Party Wall Act may not even apply!

"I don't know" doesn't really allow me to advise any further.

Johnhowell

Party Wall Act may still apply if the proposed works affect your foundations - depends of depth of foundations, depth of proposed works, distance between foundations and therefore the angle of effect...


Ask you neighbour if they have assigned a Party Wall Surveyor which can assess your property before and after. You have the right to engage your own Surveyor - not a cold call scammers - which your neighbour would have to cover the costs. There is guidance on Planning and Building Control websites for this scenario.


Good luck.

Clive_Woody

We had an extension built and the foundations were within a certain distance of our neighbours (we are both detached) so we needed a PWA. We went round to discuss this with them, showed them our plans and kept everything nice and friendly and made sure they were fully informed.

I would avoid cold calling/mailing companies as they will charge your neighbours huge fees and as mentioned milk it for everything they can. At the end of the day you need to live next door to your neighbours so I would just talk with them and keep everything civil and ensure you are still "friends" when the build is finished. Worst case find our own surveyor who charges sensible fees.

cddc

Avoid these cold callers like the plague if you want to maintain any kind of relationship with your neighbours because they are out to fleece them.

theonlywayisup

Lacuna wrote: »

SPAM

Erm I don't think so.

AndrewB84

Hi all! Do not use these sorts of companies! in many cases they are not proper party wall Surveyors and ultimately it is down to the building owner to notify their adjoining owner of their proposals given there are strict time implications under the party wall act. They don!!!8217;t follow correct procedure under the party wall act, they simply undermine the process between neighbours creating higher fees and more importantly undermine
the profession, look for faculty of party wall Surveyors or RICS accredited firms should you need any advice. I am a party wall Surveyor for a firm outside of London and this my blood boil!