Garage conversion - Do I need a party wall agreement?

Gunner276

I am looking to convert my garage into an office and utility room. My garage shares a wall with my neighbours garage.

Will I need a party wall agreement? As far as I'm aware the builders won't be making any changes or attaching anything to the party wall, they will be installing a stud wall just infront

of it.

Thanks!

TheGreenFrog

Does not sound like it.  No alterations or additions to wall, no cutting into the wall, no excavations.

Section62

Gunner276 said:

I am looking to convert my garage into an office and utility room. My garage shares a wall with my neighbours garage.

Will I need a party wall agreement? As far as I'm aware the builders won't be making any changes or attaching anything to the party wall, they will be installing a stud wall just infront

of it.

Thanks!

Have you checked the situation with planning and covenants?

I'd be surprised if you could do the conversion complying with building regs without affecting the wall in some way.  Is the garage detached from your house, or integral?

grumpy_codger

Section62 said:

Gunner276 said:

I am looking to convert my garage into an office and utility room. My garage shares a wall with my neighbours garage.

Will I need a party wall agreement? As far as I'm aware the builders won't be making any changes or attaching anything to the party wall, they will be installing a stud wall just infront

of it.

Thanks!

Have you checked the situation with planning and covenants?

I'd be surprised if you could do the conversion complying with building regs without affecting the wall in some way.  Is the garage detached from your house, or integral?

The question was about a party wall agreement, not building control. The latter is needed at least because of the insulation requirements. I'm no expert, but I think the floor has to be properly insulated too, not just the walls and the ceiling.

Section62

grumpy_codger said:

Section62 said:

Gunner276 said:

I am looking to convert my garage into an office and utility room. My garage shares a wall with my neighbours garage.

Will I need a party wall agreement? As far as I'm aware the builders won't be making any changes or attaching anything to the party wall, they will be installing a stud wall just infront

of it.

Thanks!

Have you checked the situation with planning and covenants?

I'd be surprised if you could do the conversion complying with building regs without affecting the wall in some way.  Is the garage detached from your house, or integral?

The question was about a party wall agreement, not building control....

Yes, I'm aware of that.

My point/question is that compliance with building regs is likely to involve more than just putting in a freestanding stud wall.  So whether a PWA is needed will depend on what else needs to be done.  The starting point then is whether this might be classed as an outbuilding, or if it will clearly be part of the dwelling.

Gunner276

Yes we will have building control sign off. According to the builder the stud wall is explicitly not allowed to touch the party wall and must be 20mm away to stop thermal bridges. 

It will then have 100mm of insulation. 

I am starting to think this will not need a PWA but will check with the builder that he won't be doing anything to the wall 

grumpy_codger

Gunner276 said:

According to the builder the stud wall is explicitly not allowed to touch the party wall

I'm pretty sure this is untrue.

I am starting to think this will not need a PWA but will check with the builder

I don't think that you need a PWA either, but if you really want to make sure check with somebody more reliable than THIS builder.