Settle your party wall matter with one surveyor you both trust

One surveyor standing between two neighbours beneath a balance scale that carries a small house on each pan

For homeowners in England and Wales who are on good terms with the neighbours. Compare quotes from party wall surveyors who can act as one agreed surveyor, a simpler route than two.

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, where a neighbour dissents (does not agree to the work as described) the usual route is for each owner to appoint a surveyor. If you get on well, you can instead agree on a single surveyor to deal with the whole matter. An agreed surveyor acts for both owners, not for either, so must be impartial. They inspect both properties, record the neighbour’s condition, prepare and serve the party wall award and are the point of contact for both sides. With one surveyor there is no second surveyor to negotiate with, so it is often simpler, but it only works if both owners trust the choice.

How a professional can help

Agreeing who to appoint: A building owner usually proposes a surveyor, and the neighbour can accept, propose someone else or appoint their own. A surveyor can explain what an agreed appointment means for both sides before anything is signed.
Acting impartially for both owners: The agreed surveyor serves the Act rather than either person. They can’t advise one owner privately, and they explain their decisions to both, so each owner knows where they stand.
One schedule, one set of papers: They inspect the neighbour’s property, prepare a single schedule of condition and send drawings, questions and the draft to both owners, avoiding duplicated correspondence between two surveyors.
Drafting a fair party wall award: The party wall award sets out the work, working hours, access, protection and who pays, written to be fair to both owners. It is served on both owners with the schedule of condition attached.
Handling questions during the build: If the neighbour raises a concern or the builder wants to change the sequence, the same surveyor looks at it, which can mean quicker answers than waiting for two surveyors to agree.
Knowing when it isn’t suitable: If the work is complicated, a neighbour is worried or relations are strained, two surveyors may suit better. An experienced surveyor will say so if an agreed appointment isn’t right.

Is this right for you?

You and your neighbour are on friendly terms and both want a simple process.
The work is of modest scale, such as a loft beam or a rear extension, and shouldn’t need long negotiation.
Your neighbour would prefer not to appoint their own surveyor.
You want one point of contact for both sides.
You’d like to avoid the back and forth between two surveyors.

How the project usually runs

Propose an agreed surveyor: The building owner suggests a surveyor in writing, and the neighbour is free to accept, suggest someone else or appoint their own. Nobody is obliged to agree.
Joint appointment in writing: If both owners agree, they appoint the surveyor jointly in writing, so that the surveyor’s duty is to the Act and to both of them.
Inspection and schedule of condition: The surveyor visits the neighbour’s property, notes the rooms nearest the work and records its condition with photographs, sharing the schedule with both owners.
Draft and serve the party wall award: The surveyor prepares the party wall award from the design and the neighbour’s reasonable concerns, shares it for comment, then serves it on both owners.
Work, then closing inspection: After the building work, the surveyor checks the neighbour’s property against the schedule of condition and deals with anything that needs to be made good.

What affects the cost

Whether the neighbour agrees to a joint appointment, or each owner appoints their own surveyor.
The size and complexity of the work, such as a single beam compared with deep foundations.
How much of the neighbour’s property must be inspected and recorded.
How many neighbours the work affects: each needs notice and a record of condition, and an agreed surveyor can cover several only if each agrees.
Whether concerns come up during the build that need extra visits.
The building owner normally pays the reasonable surveyor’s fees.

How an agreed surveyor fits the Act

Agreed surveyors are appointed under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which covers England and Wales. Neighbours in Scotland and Northern Ireland follow different rules, and surveyors across the UK can explain what applies.
Neither owner is obliged to agree. If a neighbour prefers their own surveyor, that is their right, and the building owner normally pays the reasonable fees.
With one agreed surveyor there is no second surveyor to disagree with, so a third surveyor isn’t needed.
Planning permission and Building Regulations approval are separate, and an agreed surveyor doesn’t cover either.

Questions people ask

What is an agreed surveyor?

A single party wall surveyor appointed jointly by the building owner and the adjoining owner to deal with the matter between them. They act for neither side, must be impartial, and prepare and serve the party wall award. It can be simpler than two surveyors, but both owners must agree to the appointment.

Can my neighbour insist on their own surveyor?

Yes. Nobody is obliged to agree to an agreed surveyor. If your neighbour prefers their own, each owner appoints one and the two surveyors choose a third surveyor in case they disagree. The building owner normally pays the reasonable fees of both surveyors.

Can the agreed surveyor advise me on my own position?

Not privately. Because they act for both owners, they can’t advise one side against the other, but they can explain the process and their decisions to both of you. If you want advice for your side alone, you may need to consult another adviser separately.

Does an agreed surveyor save time?

Often it can, because one person deals with the whole process and there is no negotiation between two surveyors. But it depends on both owners trusting the choice and on how complex the work is. If the project is complicated or the neighbour is anxious, two surveyors may give better reassurance.

What if the neighbour doesn’t trust the surveyor I suggest?

Then the neighbour can suggest another surveyor or appoint their own. An appointment works well only when both owners are comfortable, and a surveyor won’t expect either of you to agree. A party wall surveyor can advise on how to approach the conversation.

Available across the UK

Party wall surveyors cover the whole of the UK. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules, and a professional can tell you what applies to your property.