Building work finished? Get the property checked for damage

Two report pages side by side, before and after building work, with matching photo frames ticked and a magnifier checking one

For neighbours and building owners in England and Wales. A party wall surveyor compares the property with the schedule of condition and records any damage and repairs needed. Compare quotes free.

When the building work is finished, the surveyors go back. A post-works inspection compares the neighbour’s property with the schedule of condition made at the start, room by room, and records anything that has changed. If nothing has, both owners get a clear record that the job closed without damage. If something has, the surveyors list what needs repairing and who will do it. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, in England and Wales, the building owner is expected to make good damage caused by the work, and the inspection is where that is agreed.

How a professional can help

Comparing today’s condition with the schedule: The surveyor visits the same rooms, takes photos from the same positions and checks each item against the original notes, so changes are easy to see rather than argued from memory.
Telling new damage from old: Cracks and stains already listed in the schedule are not new. The surveyor checks widths and positions, and uses their judgement to tell shrinkage, settlement and wear from damage caused by the work.
Writing a repair list: Where there is damage, they write a short list of what needs making good, such as filling and redecorating a ceiling crack, with the location and a photo for each item, so the builder can price it and carry it out.
Fixing a standard and a date for repairs: They agree with the builder what finish counts as properly repaired, such as matching plaster and paint, and set a date for the repairs and for the surveyor to check them, so the list does not drift on.
Checking the shared wall itself: Where the shared wall was cut into or exposed, they check the finish, any flashing or weatherproofing, and whether beams, the blocks they rest on (padstones) and sealed openings were left as the award describes.
Closing off the process: Once any repairs are done, they confirm in writing that the matter is complete and settle the surveyors’ fees, so both owners have a clear end point.

Is this right for you?

Building work on a shared wall has just finished, or is nearly done, and you want the neighbour’s property checked.
You’re a neighbour who has noticed cracks or marks since the builders left and want them recorded properly.
You have a schedule of condition and want it used the way it was meant to be.
You’re about to sell, and a buyer’s solicitor may ask whether party wall work was completed with nothing outstanding.

How the project usually runs

Tell the surveyor the work is finished: The building owner or builder tells the surveyor, who arranges a visit with the neighbour. Ask for it soon after the work ends, while it is fresh and the builders are still on hand to fix things.
Inspection of the neighbour’s property: The surveyor revisits the rooms recorded in the schedule, and the outside, checking walls, ceilings, floors, the loft and gardens for changes, taking dated photos and measuring any new cracks.
Findings and repair list: A short report sets out any damage found and which items the builder should repair. If two surveyors are involved, they agree the findings, and the neighbour sees the list.
Making good: The builder repairs the items listed, or the building owner pays the neighbour the cost if that has been agreed, and the surveyor checks the finish.
Closing the file: Once repairs are agreed as complete, the surveyors confirm in writing that nothing is outstanding. If a disagreement remains, they can make a further award to settle it, which can be appealed.

What affects the cost

How many rooms, lofts and outbuildings were recorded in the schedule and need checking again.
How much damage is found, since an inspection with nothing to report is quicker than one with a long repair list.
Whether the neighbour lives there or has tenants, which changes how access is arranged.
Whether a structural engineer is needed to look at any new cracking or movement.
How many follow-up visits are needed to check the repairs.

How the Act deals with damage and completion

Post-works inspections follow the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules, though surveyors work across the whole UK.
A post-works inspection is only as useful as the schedule it is compared against, which is why that record is made before work starts.
The Act expects the building owner to make good damage caused by the work, or to pay what it costs to do so, and an award (the surveyors’ written agreement) usually sets out how this is dealt with.
Planning and Building Regulations sign-off are separate from this. The inspection deals with the neighbour’s property and the shared wall.

Questions people ask

When should the post-works inspection take place?

Soon after the building work finishes, so any damage can be linked to it and put right while the builder is still on the job. Some minor cracking can appear later as plaster dries and buildings settle, so ask your surveyor whether a second look after a few months is sensible.

What if I find a crack after the inspection has been signed off?

Report it in writing straight away, with dated photos. If it is new, the surveyors may be able to deal with it, depending on the wording of the award. Keep your records and don’t repair it before it has been looked at, unless it looks unsafe. If the cause is unclear, a structural engineer can investigate.

Do I have to allow the inspection?

The Act allows surveyors to enter the property during usual working hours to carry out their duties, and in practice they arrange a time with you. Co-operating usually works in your favour, as it is how damage gets recorded and put right. If you can’t be there, arrange for someone to give access, or agree another time with the surveyor.

Why would a building owner want an inspection too?

A written record that the neighbour’s property came through the work without damage, or that damage was put right, closes the matter. It helps if a claim is made later, or if a buyer’s solicitor asks whether party wall work was completed with nothing outstanding. A surveyor can tell you what record is practical for your job.

Is an inspection still worthwhile if the neighbour consented and there is no award?

It is less formal, but still a good idea if a schedule of condition was done. If there was no schedule, an inspection is still possible, but it is harder to prove what changed. A surveyor can tell you what is practical for your situation.

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.