Subjects:

Landlord and Tenant Law

Existing walls shared by two properties - so called party walls - can give rise to considerable problems when construction work takes place to these walls or new walls are constructed on boundary lines where foundations project on to neighbouring land.

The Party Wall etc Act 1996 was enacted to regulate the rights of neighbouring owners during construction work. It lays down a procedure for serving notices and for surveyors to be appointed in the event of disputes, which arise quite commonly. This text looks in detail at the body of court decisions to clarify problem areas for those administering the Act.