Blog | TPWC

May 4
7 min

How to invoke the act and can surveyors determine that it doesn't apply

The key points to take away are: 1. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is invoked by serving a notice. 2. If the Act is found not to...

A neighbourly approach to party wall matters.

Ben Mackie

May 4
7 min

A neighbourly approach to party wall matters.

This article will provide advice on how to navigate the party wall process in a friendly, neighbourly manner. If this advice were taken...

Why you shouldn't sign a party wall letter of appointment too early

Ben Mackie

Jun 11, 2021
4 min

Why you shouldn't sign a party wall letter of appointment too early

A letter of appointment has many flaws, and this article does not seek to critique common templates. The aim is to look at the timing,...

Why are Surveyors shocked when we offer them the Agreed Surveyor route?

Ben Mackie

Jun 11, 2021
3 min

Why are Surveyors shocked when we offer them the Agreed Surveyor route?

This article looks at the reasons why surveyors are often shocked when TPWC offer them the opportunity to act as the ‘agreed surveyor’....

Why are Party Wall Surveyors ignoring the case of Amir-Siddique v Kowaliw [2018]?

Ben Mackie

Jun 11, 2021
5 min

Why are Party Wall Surveyors ignoring the case of Amir-Siddique v Kowaliw [2018]?

Why are Party Wall Surveyors ignoring the case of Amir-Siddique v Kowaliw [2018]? The potential implications of the case of Amir-Siddique...

Managing expectations: Why is the Party Wall process often so disappointing?

Ben Mackie

Apr 20, 2021
5 min

Managing expectations: Why is the Party Wall process often so disappointing?

The Party Wall process is often a big disappointment to all involved, and this comes down to the poor management of expectations. The...

Why is my neighbour’s Party Wall Surveyor’s fee more expensive than mine?

Ben Mackie

Apr 20, 2021
7 min

Why is my neighbour’s Party Wall Surveyor’s fee more expensive than mine?

Surveyor’s fees vary hugely, and generally an Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor will charge more than the Building Owner’s. Before looking at...

The failure of Section 10(4) of The Party Wall Act

Ben Mackie

Apr 20, 2021
6 min

The failure of Section 10(4) of The Party Wall Act

Section 10(4) simply does not work, either for the adjoining owner who has a surveyor thrust upon him, or the building owner who has to...

Why the building owner shouldn’t settle the adjoining owner’s party wall surveyor’s fees

Ben Mackie

Feb 17, 2021
4 min

Why the building owner shouldn’t settle the adjoining owner’s party wall surveyor’s fees

In relations to surveyor’s fees, ‘The Law and Practice of Party Walls’ (Bickford-Smith et al 4th edition) states that, ‘no principles are...

The party wall surveyor 'impartiality' myth

Ben Mackie

Feb 17, 2021
6 min

The party wall surveyor 'impartiality' myth

The Party Wall Act is rife with surveyors who claim to act impartially, yet unwittingly, often do anything but. There is a general...

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
5 min

How to sack your party wall surveyor…

It is well documented that you cannot sack your party wall surveyor, but this article challenges that. The definition of ‘sack’ is to...

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
4 min

Keeping party wall costs down

This article gives ten suggestions which can help you to save money when dealing with party wall matters. If just one of these...

Further inspections – a further unnecessary expense?

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
5 min

Further inspections – a further unnecessary expense?

This article looks at the common practice of Party Wall Awards authorising further inspections once work in pursuance of the Act has been...

Party wall fixed fees – fixing a problem or part of a problem?

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
5 min

Party wall fixed fees – fixing a problem or part of a problem?

Party wall surveyor’s fees are contentious and often the source of friction. Surveyors argue all the time as to what is reasonable. It is...

Why party wall ambulance chasing is a piss poor thing to do…

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
8 min

Why party wall ambulance chasing is a piss poor thing to do…

What they do There are surveyors who look for recently submitted planning applications. They will then write to your neighbours informing...

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
2 min

Appealing a party wall award

Before describing briefly how to lodge an appeal, it is important to understand what you are getting into. An appeal is an expensive...

Party Wall Fees: excessive fees and who pays

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
4 min

Party Wall Fees: excessive fees and who pays

This article looks at probably the most contentious element of the party wall process: fees. Who pays them and how much is reasonable?...

Ways in which a party wall surveyor can screw you over…

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
9 min

Ways in which a party wall surveyor can screw you over…

This article looks at the behaviour of party wall surveyors, and how this can directly affect someone wishing to undertake work in...

Is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 effective?

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
27 min

Is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 effective?

Contents: Abstract 1.0 Introduction 1.1 A brief overview of the Act 1.2 The Background to the Problem 1.3 Article Aims and Objectives 1.4...

Great things party wall surveyors do, which often go unnoticed….

Ben Mackie

Jan 20, 2021
4 min

Great things party wall surveyors do, which often go unnoticed….

This article looks at the good things party wall surveyors can do, to reduce disputes, maintain neighbourly relations, and ensuring...

LATEST BLOGS

We take the time to carefully research topics of interest and our aim is to provide the reader with new ideas and knowledge to help better understand the Party Wall etc. Act and its application. From technical legal arguments to ethics, we hope you find what you are looking for.

Should you wish for us to write a blog on a particular topic, you are most welcome to email us a request: info@tpwc.co.uk

How to invoke the act and can surveyors determine that it doesn't apply

A neighbourly approach to party wall matters.

Why you shouldn't sign a party wall letter of appointment too early

Why are Surveyors shocked when we offer them the Agreed Surveyor route?

Why are Party Wall Surveyors ignoring the case of Amir-Siddique v Kowaliw [2018]?

Managing expectations: Why is the Party Wall process often so disappointing?

Why is my neighbour’s Party Wall Surveyor’s fee more expensive than mine?

The failure of Section 10(4) of The Party Wall Act

Why the building owner shouldn’t settle the adjoining owner’s party wall surveyor’s fees

The party wall surveyor 'impartiality'​ myth

How to sack your party wall surveyor…

Keeping party wall costs down

Further inspections – a further unnecessary expense?

Party wall fixed fees – fixing a problem or part of a problem?

Why party wall ambulance chasing is a piss poor thing to do…

Appealing a party wall award

Party Wall Fees: excessive fees and who pays

Ways in which a party wall surveyor can screw you over…

Is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 effective?

Great things party wall surveyors do, which often go unnoticed….

LATEST BLOGS

The party wall surveyor 'impartiality' myth