Stokemont Surveyors

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Party Wall Surveyors in London

RICS-registered party wall surveying specialists, providing expert advice, notices, awards, and dispute resolution services across London.

Why Choose Stokemont as Your London Party Wall Surveyor

We’re a team of experienced, RICS-registered party wall surveyors providing professional and impartial advice for both building owners and adjoining owners across London.

Our surveyors support residential and commercial clients with Party Wall Notices, Party Wall Awards, Schedule of Condition Reports, dispute resolution, and wider neighbourly matters under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

With roots in Chartered Building Surveying, we combine specialist party wall expertise with a strong technical understanding of construction and structural alterations.

We inspect a property every 1.5 hours

In 2025 we were involved in £275 million pounds of construction work

We’ve assisted over 15,000 clients with their property needs

We average a 5 star service review every 3 days

Our Surveying team has over 35 years of property knowledge

What is the Party Wall Act?

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is legislation designed to help prevent and resolve disputes relating to certain types of construction work affecting shared walls, boundaries, and neighbouring properties.

The Act applies throughout England and Wales and provides a legal framework for carrying out qualifying works while protecting the interests of neighbouring owners.

Types of Work Covered by the Party Wall Act

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies to several common types of residential and commercial construction work. Some of the most common examples include:

Works to a Party Wall or Shared Structure

Works directly affecting a shared wall or structure may fall under the Act. This can include removing chimney breasts, cutting into walls for steel beams, increasing wall height, or carrying out structural alterations.

Excavations Near Neighbouring Properties

Excavation works within specified distances of neighbouring structures may require party wall procedures, particularly where foundations are affected.

This commonly applies to basement excavations, extensions, and other substantial groundworks.

Construction on Boundary Lines

The Act may also apply where new walls are being built at or astride a boundary line between neighbouring properties.

Unsure whether your work is covered by the Party Wall Act?
Read our guide to works covered under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

What is a Party Wall Surveyor & When Do You Need One?

A Party Wall Surveyor specialises in the resolution of disputes that fall under the Party Wall etc Act 1996.

The Party Wall Surveyor’s role will be to ensure the Act is administered facilitating the building owner’s planned works on site, while also offering the adjoining owner all important legal protection.

Typical services or activities that a Party Wall Surveyor will undertake will include; Party Wall Notice Service, Schedule of Condition Reports and the agreement of Party Wall Awards.

What Types of Work Does the Party Wall etc Act 1996 Cover?

The Party Wall etc Act 1996 governs 3 particular types of construction work and covers all properties within England and Wales:

Works directly to a Party Wall, Party Structure (ceiling or floor) or Party Fence Wall (garden wall)

Excavations within 6 metres of any neighbouring structure

The construction of new walls built up to, or astride a boundary line

What Happens When You Hire a Party Wall Surveyor?

The party wall process typically follows several key stages designed to ensure construction works progress lawfully while protecting neighbouring properties.
Third Surveyor

Initial Advice

A party wall surveyor will review the works and determine whether the Party Wall Act applies.

By Hand

Notice Served

Party Wall Notices are prepared and served to the affected adjoining owners.

Consent or Dissent

Neighbours can either consent to the proposed works or dissent and appoint surveyors.

Surveyor Appointed

If consent is not provided, both parties can appoint surveyors to assess the proposed works and prepare a Party Wall Award setting out how the works should proceed.

If the appointed surveyors are unable to agree, a third surveyor may be called upon to make a final decision.

Party Wall Award

Once an agreement or decision is made, surveyors prepare a legally binding Party Wall Award outlining how works should proceed.
building condition survey

Works Monitored

Where necessary, a Schedule of Condition Inspection and post-work inspections may also be carried out to ensure the terms of the award are being followed.

Party Wall Guidance for Building and Adjoining Owners

Whether you are planning construction works or responding to works proposed by a neighbour, our surveyors provide advice to building owners and adjoining owners throughout the party wall process.

Building Owners

We assist building owners with:

  • Determining whether the Act applies
  • Preparing and serving Party Wall Notices
  • Schedule of Condition Reports
  • Party Wall Awards
  • Resolving neighbour disputes

Adjoining Owners

We assist adjoining owners with:

  • Reviewing Party Wall Notices
  • Explaining the party wall process
  • Protecting neighbouring properties
  • Schedule of Condition Inspections
  • Party wall dispute resolution services

Party Wall Services We Provide

Stokemont provides a wide range of specialist party wall and neighbourly matters services across London:

Party Wall Notices

Party Wall Awards

Schedule of Condition Reports

Security for Expenses

Adjoining Owner Advice

Building Owner Advice

Boundary Disputes

Rights of Light

Areas We Cover

Stokemont provides party wall surveying services across London, supporting residential and commercial clients throughout the capital:

North London

South London

East London

West London

North West London

South West London

South East London

Typical Party Wall Surveying Questions & Video FAQ

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Do I need to serve a Party Wall Notice?

If your proposed works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you may be legally required to serve a Party Wall Notice on affected adjoining owners before work begins.

This commonly applies to works such as extensions, loft conversions, basement excavations, structural alterations to shared walls, and certain excavation works near neighbouring properties.

Can I serve the Party Wall Notice myself?

Yes, property owners can serve a Party Wall Notice themselves without appointing a party wall surveyor.

However, incorrectly prepared or invalid notices can lead to delays, disputes, and potential legal complications later in the process. For this reason, many property owners choose to hire an experienced party wall surveyor to ensure notices are prepared and served correctly.

How much will a London Party Wall Surveyor cost?

Party wall surveyor fees can vary depending on several factors, including the type of property involved, the nature of the proposed works, and the complexity of the matter.

In many cases, party wall surveyor fees for straightforward residential projects may start from around £700+ VAT, although more complex works or disputes may incur higher costs.

Who pays for the Party Wall Surveying costs?

In most circumstances, the building owner undertaking the proposed works is responsible for the party wall surveying costs.

This can include the costs of their own surveyor and, depending on the adjoining owner’s response, the reasonable costs of the adjoining owner’s appointed surveyor.

How long do the Party Wall Surveying procedures take?

The length of the party wall process can vary depending on the nature of the proposed works and the adjoining owner’s response to the Party Wall Notice.

Adjoining owners typically have 14 days to respond to a Party Wall Notice, although additional time may be required in some circumstances.

Where surveyors are appointed, and a Party Wall Award is required, the process can often take anywhere from two to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of the matter.

When should I serve a Party Wall Notice?

It is generally advisable to serve a Party Wall Notice as early as possible before construction works begin.

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, notices typically need to be served at least one or two months before works commence, depending on the type of proposed works involved.

What is a Party Wall?
A party wall is typically a wall shared by two adjoining properties. A common example would be the wall dividing two terraced or semi-detached houses, where part of the wall sits on each side of the boundary between the properties.
The Party Wall Notice has been served, what happens next?

Once a Party Wall Notice has been served, the adjoining owner is given time to review the proposed works and respond.

The adjoining owner can:

  • Consent to the proposed works
  • Dissent and appoint their own party wall surveyor
  • Dissent and agree to use a single agreed surveyor

If no response is received within the required timeframe, further notices may need to be served before surveyors are formally appointed, and the party wall process progresses.

Here are some Party Wall Surveying projects we've done in the past:

Rutland Mews South, Knightsbridge, SW7

The Stokemont team were very pleased to be able assist with the completion of a Party Wall Surveying Schedule of Condition Report for a stunning mews house located on Rutland Mews South, Knightsbridge, SW7. The neighbouring works included a single storey basement conversion and extension on Rutland Street.

 Timeline: 27 days

High Street Kensington, London, W8

The Stokemont team were very pleased to be able assist with the completion of a Party Wall Award for this mid level flat located on High Street Kensington, London. The construction works included the removal of internal structural walls, the introduction of new steel support and the replacement of floors and ceilings.

 Timeline: 12 days

St Stephen's Terrace, Stockwell, SW8

The Stokemont team were very pleased to be able assist with the service of Party Wall Notices, a Schedule of Condition Report and Agreement of a Party Wall Award on this mid terraced turn of the century home on St Stephen's Terrace, Stockwell. The Party Wall works included the installation of steel work into the Party Wall and relocation of internal walls.

 Timeline: 22 days

Team Qualifications

Our team of surveyors are not only highly experienced but importantly they are also qualified.

We’re proud to confirm our surveyors hold membership status and accreditation to some of the world’s leading professional governing bodies including; the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Pyramus and Thisbe Club (P&T).

Advice Centre

Notice of Adjacent Excavation

Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, excavation (digging) work within six metres of any neighbouring buildings or structures gives rise to the need for a Party Wall Notice. You will often hear party wall surveyors refer to the works that fall within the scope of the...

What Makes a Great Party Wall Surveyor?

What Makes a Great Party Wall Surveyor?

Having undertaken party wall surveying work for well over 15 years, we thought we would share our thoughts on what makes a great party wall surveyor. A great party wall surveyor brings much more to the table than just an understanding of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996....

What Is a Party Fence Wall?

What Is a Party Fence Wall?

A party fence wall is defined by Section 20 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which deals with interpretation, as follows: “Party fence wall” means a wall (not being part of a building) which stands on land belonging to different owners and is used or constructed to be...

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