ALAN RILEY’S PARTY WALL BLOG
Not serving Notice and reasonable access
A couple of weeks ago, we looked at one of the consequences of not serving notice under the Act- solicitors’ searches. Another reason for serving notice is that, where notice has been given and the Act is triggered, the building owner has rights to do things which...
What could happen if a Party Wall Notice is not served?
We are often asked what are the consequences of doing work such as a loft conversion or extension without first serving notice and complying with the party Wall Act. One answer is that purchaser’s solicitors DO ask in their searches whether the Act has been complied...
The Case of the Careless Designer
It is a sad fact that contributors to consumer forums are more likely to criticise party wall surveyors as being an expensive irrelevance than praise them for a job well done. Yes, there are surveyors who charge too much, but it is worth looking at some of the reasons...
The perils of employing incompetent contractors
How not to prop a wall! Disaster strikes! We had a recent case in SW London where the owner of a house appointed a contractor to lower the level of their garden. No structural engineer was appointed to design the works and no party wall surveyor had been...