Party Wall Act 1996
The Party Wall Act 1996 ("the Act") came into force on 1st July
1997 throughout England and Wales.
If you intend to carry out work which involves one of the
following categories:
- work on an existing wall or structure shared with another
property (section 2 of the Act)
- building a free standing wall or a wall of a building up to or
astride the boundary with a neighbouring property (section 1 of the
Act)
- excavating near a neighbouring building (section 6 of the
Act)
You must find out whether that work falls within the Act. If it
does, you must notify all affected neighbours.
The Act is separate from planning or building regulations
control.
You must remember that reaching agreement with your neighbour
under the Act does not remove the possible need for planning
permission or building regulations approval.