Notice, agreement, award – the three words get used interchangeably, but they are different documents at different stages of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 process. Two minutes here saves a lot of confusion later.
Party wall notice
The starting document. Before notifiable works (cutting into a shared wall, building at the boundary, or excavating within 3–6 metres of a neighbour’s foundations), the building owner must serve written notice on every affected neighbour – one to two months before starting, depending on the works. We draft and serve valid notices for a fixed fee; an invalid notice restarts the clock.
Party wall agreement
Strictly, the Act never uses the phrase – what people call an “agreement” is usually one of two things: the neighbour’s written consent to the notice (no surveyors needed – the cheapest outcome, though a schedule of condition is still wise), or loosely, the award below.
Party wall award
The formal document produced by surveyors when a neighbour dissents (or ignores the notice). Prepared by an agreed surveyor acting for both owners, or two surveyors, the award authorises the works, sets working hours and protections, records the adjoining property’s condition, and allocates costs – normally to the building owner. It is legally binding, appealable to the county court within 14 days.
Which do you need?
Everyone doing notifiable works needs a notice. What follows depends on your neighbour: consent = no award needed; dissent or silence = an award before you start. See what each stage costs in our party wall cost guide, or what happens when things go wrong in party wall disputes.
Starting an extension, loft or basement? Our party wall surveyors handle notice to award at fixed fees across London. Call 020 4579 8270.