Party wall and neighbourly matters disputes

Whether it is a residential or commercial property, many owners and investors want to maximise the size of their property and their investment. This frequently impacts neighbouring or nearby owners and occupiers, interfering with their rights, causing disturbance, affecting their buildings etc.

No one wants a dispute with a neighbour about their home. Investors don’t want disputes which could hold up commercially valuable development. But party wall and other related disputes happen all the time.

Careful planning can help. The law often requires neighbour engagement, e.g. under the Party Wall Act.

What does the Party Wall Act cover?

The Act covers:

• building on or at the boundary of two properties
• work to an existing party wall or party structure
• excavation near to and below the foundation level of the buildings

You might need professional help if:

• there is disagreement about work proposed, including whether the Party Wall Act applies
• work is threatened without the Act being complied with when it should be
• work or other things to be done under an “award” under the Act has not been done, or has not been done properly
• there is concern about an “award” and an appeal  might be necessary - there is a strict and limited time limit to start an appeal
• your lawful enjoyment of your property is being unreasonably interfered with by, say, too much noise, dust, vibration etc
• there is trespass on your land or there is an interference with a property right, e.g. a right of way

As one of a limited number of firms that specialise in party wall issues, our specialist property lawyers are regularly instructed by property owners undertaking work, or owners of neighbouring land affected by it, to advise on the legal issues that often arise.

We have particular expertise in the Party Wall Act, in relation to boundaries, property rights and interests relevant to disputes between neighbouring owners, including rights of way or light and restrictive covenants controlling development.

We have strong working relationships with other leading property professionals who are highly experienced in these cases.

Frequently we are instructed when a project is being proposed, implemented or opposed. This often means our transactional, planning and disputes specialists working together to protect your interests. We also advise on professional negligence and construction disputes.

Here are some comments made about us.

Charges are usually based on our hourly rates plus administrative charges and disbursements. We’ll provide an initial estimate of your likely legal costs and will update this if your requirements or the circumstances of the work change. 

The current range of hourly rates for members of the team is from £190 plus VAT to £600 plus VAT per hour.