Compensation

Question I recently started reducing the ground level on a site in preparation for piling and found that the foundations to the neighbouring building project on to the site by between 200 and 300mm. As the adjoining owner should not have built onto my land, are they responsible for our costs and delays? Answer There is a right to project ... Read more >>

Question What should happen after the structural engineer has completed their plan for the remedial work? I have agreed to the work via the party wall surveyor (I am the adjoining owner) but it's all gone quiet for two months! These roof repairs really need doing, but I'm not sure whether the neighbour will proceed with it. Can I enforce the ... Read more >>

Question Our neighbour started a building project, a loft conversion and rear extension, but work stopped six months ago and the site has been idle since. The scaffolding remains up and does protrudes over the boundary into our property. When we renovated our house we installed a satellite dish for television. We have not been able to use it ... Read more >>

Question My neighbour recently undertook some works and at about the same time I noticed a leak to my conservatory roof. I cannot find where the water is coming in from but it's too much of a coincidence for it not to be related to the works. Is it my neighbour's responsibility to investigate? He doesn't seem to think so. Answer If you believe ... Read more >>

Question I consented to my neighbour's works on the understanding that I should not suffer as a consequence. Many of the existing cracks have widened but my neighbour is saying because they are existing they are not his responsibility. Can this be correct? Answer Certain rights under the Act, such as cutting in to a party wall, come with an ... Read more >>

Question My neighbours are extending in to their basement. Recently the drilling work has intensified and I’ve noticed a crack in the hallway. Should they be using a lower level of force in the drilling i.e. so the house is not shaking and creating cracks as they go? Answer You don’t say whether there is a party wall award in place but if ... Read more >>

Question We currently live in an old terrace cottage and our neighbour is considering building an extension . The neighbouring property was built after the terrace was completed and you can still clearly identify the old cornerstones to our property and where theirs continues, I presume that this identifies the wall as a ‘Type B’ Party wall ... Read more >>

Question I live in a terraced house. There is a party wall at single storey level and not at first floor level (at the back). My 1st floor extension wall is on my side entirely and my ground floor extension is against the ground floor party wall which his single storey extension is built against . This historically is because the adjoining ... Read more >>

Question I went through the correct channels and served a Party Wall Award.  We started work on a small extension, which was externally finished within a few weeks. Nine months later the surveyor that was acting on behalf of the neighbour wrote to see if they were satisfied and low and behold the neighbour decided that we had damaged their ... Read more >>

Question I built a wall on my land to create a kitchen conservatory extension. My neighbours then decided they would like to have something similar and I agreed to letting them use my wall and it becoming a party wall, and they paid me £1200 as a 50% contribution to the cost of the wall.   Now, 5 years later, the wall is damp and the new owners ... Read more >>