Avoiding Costly Mistakes: The Importance of a Party Wall Surveyor in Essex
Are you looking to do some renovation or construction work in Essex that could affect a boundary or a shared wall in Essex? If so, you will need to enlist the help of a party wall surveyor. This is not just a legal formality, it is a smart move that could save you time, money and untold stress.
According to the 1996 Party Wall Act, property owners are required to notify their neighbours if they intend to undertake any work that affects a shared or party wall. If a property owner fails to comply with the requirement, they could face serious legal and financial consequences.
What are party wall agreements?
A party wall refers to any wall shared by two neighbouring properties. If you want to carry out any kind of work, such as removing a chimney beast, building an extension or excavating close to a neighbour’s foundation, the act compels you to provide your neighbour with a party wall notice.
Once you give your neighbour a party wall notice, they can consent or dissent. If they dissent, there will be a need to appoint a party wall surveyor to come up with a legally binding agreement called a party wall award.
Given that properties in Essex often sit close together, especially in villages and older towns, property developers need to use the services of competent surveyors. Because of the local building styles and tight spaces, there is a high likelihood of party wall issues coming up and these can escalate quickly if there’s no proper oversight.
Reasons to hire a party wall surveyor in Essex
The best thing about bringing on board a qualified party wall surveyor in Essex when implementing a project is that they act impartially to safeguard the interests of both parties. These professionals assess the proposed work, document the condition of the adjacent properties, and ensure work is carried out lawfully and safely.
Below are some key reasons to consider hiring a party wall surveyor:
Legal Compliance
Failure to comply with the Party Wall Act can result in project delays, injunctions or even legal action. When you consult a party wall surveyor in Essex, they will ensure you follow all the legal processes to the letter.
Accurate condition reports
Before the commencement of any work, surveyors come up with a schedule of condition. The essence of the schedule is to safeguard you from false damage claims and to give neighbours peace of mind.
Dispute resolution
If your neighbour dissents after you serve them a party wall notice, the surveyor comes in to mediate and produces a fair award. This avoids any possibility of costly disputes later.
Time and cost savings
As they say, prevention is better than cure. Instead of waiting to deal with conflicts due to issues related to party walls, which can be expensive, proactively dealing with issues that may lead to disputes can be cheaper.
In addition, working with a party wall surveyor in Essex can help to streamline the process. This way, there would be a reduction in risks of delays as well as unprecedented repair expenses.
Conclusion
Hiring a party wall surveyor in Essex is one of the best decisions you can make to guarantee the success of your project. These professionals can help you avoid costly mistakes, maintain cordial relations with owners of adjoining properties, execute the work confidently and complete it in time with no avoidable delays.
