A Party Wall Award is the legal document setting out the rights and responsibilities of the Owner proposing the building works (the “Building Owner”), and the legal owner of the neighbouring, adjacent property (defined by the Party Wall Act as the “Adjoining Owner”.)
The Award is drafted by the Party Wall Surveyors (or by the “Agreed” Surveyor acting for both the Building Owner and the Adjoining Owner). It is a comprehensive document, which describes in detail the works to be carried out as covered by the Party Wall etc Act 1996 (very often the party wall-related works are just one part of a wider scheme). The Award sets out the timing and manner of the proposed works and can include drawings and method statements.
The Award should be kept with the Deeds of a property, being a legal document. They can prove what works been done and under whose “ownership” the works were initiated. A retrospective Award can not be made, if no Notice has been issued.
Due to the fact that a Building Owner is obliged to make good any damage that the party wall works cause to the Adjoining Owner’s Property, a Schedule of Condition is usually included (a record of the condition of the neighbouring property which is then compiled before any relevant works commence). The Schedule of Condition then acts as a point of reference, if the party wall works cause damage.
A party wall award is the legally binding document that ends the notice process: it records the condition of the adjoining property before works start (the schedule of condition), sets out exactly what work may be done, when and how, and fixes who pays the surveyors’ fees. It protects both owners – the building owner gets the legal right to proceed, and the adjoining owner gets an enforceable record to claim against if damage occurs.
A straightforward award, where both surveyors cooperate, typically completes in 4-8 weeks from dissent; an agreed surveyor acting for both parties is usually faster and cheaper. Building owners normally pay all reasonable fees. Budget from around £900 per appointed surveyor – our party wall cost guide breaks the fees down, and if you are still unsure whether the Act applies, start with do I need a party wall agreement? We arrange party wall surveyors across London and Surrey with fixed fees agreed up front.
