Choosing a Party Wall Surveyor in London

The Party wall Act defines the term “surveyor” as “any person not being a party to the matter appointed or selected under Section 10 to determine disputes in accordance with the procedures set out in this Act.” A Party Wall surveyor plays a essential part in securing the rights of both Building Owners and owners of adjoining properties alike.

A reputable Party Wall surveyor will resolve all disputes in a fair and efficient manner. They will make sure that construction work is carried out quickly and safely.

Who can act as a Party Wall Surveyor?

The section 20 in the Party Wall etc Act defines “surveyor” as a person who is not a party to the dispute and is appointed to decide disagreements arising in the Act. It is a fact that no formal training or experience is needed to be a surveyor’ of the party wall. Construction works which fall under the purview of the Act usually involve complex excavations and construction, therefore it follows that a surveyor’ must be a skilled and licensed certified building professional.

A Party Wall Surveyor’s Qualifications

Membership in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or another equivalent regulatory body (CIOB or RIBA) is an ideal requirement for owners.

But, with that said, do you really prefer a Party Wall Surveyor that isn’t advising you?

In the field of property there’s a huge array of certificates available. It could be RICS, CIOB, CABE, CIARB, FPWS or numerous others. We suggest that you make sure you are sure that the Party Wall Surveyor you choose to represent your needs has the appropriate qualifications acquired through normal professional or academic pathways.

It is also recommended to look into the routes to entry when choosing the Party Wall Surveyor you want to hire and conducting background checks of their credentials. Certain qualifications are more difficult to attain than others.

Identify damage caused by work

The second important part is a comprehensive schedule of condition of the property of the owners who are adjacent. Although it is not a mandatory obligation in the Act it self, the document has been made an obligatory appendix (subject for access). The document must clearly reflect the condition of buildings adjacent to it. This will prevent costly disputes should any damages be caused. Damage disputes are the last thing that Building Owners and adjoining Owners would like to see. The most common solution to settle disputes without the use of a Schedule of Condition is by recourse to the courts. This could result in substantial expenses for both parties as well as the nature of the events that the Act was designed to prevent.

In this regard it is recommended to use long-standing trustworthy, skilled chartered professionals of the industry-approved regulated bodies to act for surveyors as per the Act. They’ll have the expertise necessary to ensure that the work will be completed safely with no chance of injury.

Selecting the right Party Wall Surveyor diligence

Sometimes, untrained surveyors can get jobs by presenting a small upfront or all-inclusive fee for an Party Wall Award when compared to the cost of a seasoned and properly regulated procedure. However, this may be an untrue economy.

The chartered surveyors, engineers and architects who act as surveyors of the party wall typically charge a higher rate. This is a reflection of the amount of education, expertise and knowledge that the professionals are likely to have acquired in understanding the complexities of building technology, construction pathology, and a thorough understanding regarding how to use the Party Wall Act itself. The cost, however will be transparent and clear about the quality of service given.

The choice of a surveyor has to be done with diligence. It is best to choose an experienced, reliable chartered professional who has verified status with any of the industry-approved regulatory bodies, for example. To verify the surveyor’s membership of any of the regulatory bodies that are approved follow these links to the RICS as well as the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Read

Who pays the Party Wall Surveyor Fees?

What is a Party Wall Agreement?

Retrospective Party Wall Agreement

PARTY WALL AWARD