Party wall act

davelees215

We've finally found a builder for our extension and they've told us that as they've has a job cancelled they can start work in 3 weeks. Great, except that we haven't done anything about the party wall act yet.
The work will be within 3m of the neighbour's but it won't directly be touching the boundary or their structure.
I was talking about it to my neighbour yesterday and he doesn't have any problems with the works. He's actually planning an extension himself for the summer so he's not likely to start complaining about mine. However looking for the online forms it there needs to be 2 months notice, and confusingly says 1 months notice somewhere else and I don't really understand it to be honest.
Is there any way round this, and could we just put a different date on the form.
Also, what exactly do we do with the form as I'm not entirely sure. Do we need to send it to someone else or just both sign it and keep a copy.

TheCyclingProgrammer

I believe you can give shorter notice if your neighbour is happy to agree to an earlier start date. Serve the notice and get a signed acknowledgment that they are happy to proceed with your proposed start date.

Newuser1987

Its one month notice for the excavation part of the Party Wall Act.

Just put something like this in the letter:

I/we propose to commence works after the expiration of one month from the date of this notice or earlier if you agree.

davelees215

Thanks think I've figured that bit out now.
Also does anyone know what 'special foundations' are?
Our extension will just be strip concrete foundations as it's just a small single story extension so I'm guessing that's not special foundations.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Special would indicate some kind of reinforcement, piles etc. I think.