Do I need to serve a party wall notice?
Loft conversions, extensions, chimney breast removals and basements in London commonly engage the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This free checker walks the same statutory questions our surveyors ask — shared structures, boundary walls and the 3/6-metre excavation rules — and tells you which notice applies and how much lead time it needs. It runs entirely in your browser and asks for no personal details.
The three notice types at a glance
| Notice | Covers | Minimum notice |
|---|---|---|
| Party Structure Notice (s2) | Cutting in, raising, underpinning, thickening, repair or demolition of a shared structure | 2 months |
| Line of Junction Notice (s1) | A new wall or building up to or astride the boundary | 1 month |
| Three/Six-Metre Notice (s6) | Excavation within 3 metres deeper than neighbouring foundations, or within 6 metres under the 45-degree rule | 1 month |
For notices concerning work to an existing party structure or excavation, no written consent within 14 days means a dispute is deemed to have arisen. For a new wall astride the boundary, written consent is required; without it within 14 days, the wall must be built wholly on the building owner’s land. Disagreements about Section 1 work follow the Act’s dispute procedure. Free downloadable letters: our party wall notice templates page.
Want the notices handled for you?
Send your drawings and the neighbouring addresses and we will confirm which notices apply, prepare them and serve them correctly.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call 020 7101 4590.
Common questions about party wall notices
Is this checker legal advice?
No. It is an indicative guide to sections 1, 2 and 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Whether the Act applies depends on the specific works, drawings and boundary position, and we confirm the notice strategy before anything is served.
What happens after a notice is served?
For notices concerning work to an existing party structure or excavation, no written consent within 14 days means a dispute is deemed to have arisen. For a new wall astride the boundary, written consent is required; without it within 14 days, the wall must be built wholly on the building owner’s land. Disagreements about Section 1 work follow the Act’s dispute procedure.
Can I serve the notices myself?
Yes. Building owners can serve their own notices, and the Government explanatory booklet includes example letters. A defective notice can invalidate the process, so many owners ask a surveyor to prepare and serve them.
How far in advance should I serve notice?
A section 2 party structure notice needs at least 2 months before the notifiable works start; section 1 and section 6 notices need at least 1 month. Serving early protects the programme.