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Basic Procedures for Mews Owners (Part 1)

by Martyn Brown on February 12, 2018
Basic Procedures for Mews Owners (Part 1)
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The Posts 

This is the fourth in a series of 10 posts about Party Wall matters specific to London Mews. Each post is written with the Mews owner in mind, either as someone carrying out development works (referred to in the posts as a ‘developer’) or as someone who finds the development works occurring next door (referred to in the posts as a ‘neighbour’). The five subjects covered are posted as follows:-

  1. 51/1 – Party Wall Matters (1)  – An Introduction –(Parts 1, 2 and 3)
  2. 51A/1- Party Wall Matters (2) – Basic Procedure (Parts 4 and 5)
  3. 51B/1 – Party Wall Matters (3) – Specific to your Mews (Part 6)
  4. 51C/1 – Party Wall Matters (4) – What could go wrong and what to do about it

(Parts 7 and 8)

  1. 51D/1 – Party Wall Matters (5) – Sundry Associated Issues (Parts 9 and 10)

This post addresses basic Party Wall legislation and procedures in more detail. The subsequent posts deal with the practical application of the legislation; typical Party Wall works and other possible issues for Building Owners and their neighbours.

Party Wall Procedures

Fig 51A/1 – Frontispiece of the Act

As explained in these posts, sooner or later most Mews owners are likely to become involved in Party Wall matters; either when you undertake your own works or if one of your neighbours undertakes alterations or an extension. The inclusion of abbreviation etc. after the words Party Wall is significant since the Act deals with excavations near party walls and other buildings or structures as well as works directly to the party wall.

The first issue to consider relates to jargon and legalese. All legislation employs such convolutions to some extent and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is no different in this regard. It is particularly clunky in its definition of the roles and responsibilities under the act – it refers to Building Owners and Adjoining Owners where ‘developers’ and ‘neighbours’ would otherwise be used. There are sound reasons for this terminology but it can be confusing. As this is a post rather than a more formal treatise more colloquial terminology is adopted to ease any confusion. In writing about London Mews and in trying to be engaging there are obviously parts of the Act which are not covered fully so I must impress on any one reading this or any other post that this is not intended to replace a more comprehensive study text or the need to refer to the Act itself when agreeing formal matters under the Act.

Glossary – in colloquial terms the fundamentals to understand are:

Notices – there are a number of notices referred to in the Act, and it is the giving of these that triggers party wall procedures. They must be correctly addressed as the Act requires and ideally be sent by a surveyor to make sure time is not wasted on technicalities to do with the serving of the notice which can be frustrating all round.

Foundation works – excavations within 3 metres or 6 metres of the neighbours are likely to be notifiable in the following circumstances:

SEE FIG 51A/2 & A/3.

Fig 51A/2 – 3 Metre Notice Diagram
Fig 51A/3 – 6 Metre Notice Diagram

Party Walls – walls that form part of a building and stand on the land of 2 or more owners, possibly as part of a building or as a freestanding wall, or walls on one owners land used by the other owners.

Fig 51A/4 – Party Wall Diagram
Fig 51A/5 – Party Wall notifiable works Diagram

This glossary is continued in Post 51A/2/2.

Further advice from MBA Surveyors

This post and the others in this series aim to be an introduction into the world of party wall matters. In no way do they attempt to provide specific advice on specific party walls issues relating to any particular mews property. Being general in nature it is no substitute for any professional advice you will need with your own Mews property.

If you are unsure on any Party Wall matters please contact our sister company MBA Surveyors

Telephone on 0207 419 5033 or alternatively, contact us by e-mail sending the drawings you have or notice you may have received on info@mbasurveyors.com

We will then be happy to advise you further.

Additionally and for more information on the legislation please refer to the Government’s Explanatory Booklet.

Party Wall etc. Act 1996. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/40/contents

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