Party Wall Notice: Serve It Correctly Before Building Work (2026 Guide)

By the eLitigant Editorial Team · Reviewed for current forms, fees & procedure · How we check our guides

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Loft conversions, rear extensions, basement digs and chimney removals often trigger the Act. Serving a correct notice protects you legally and keeps the neighbours on side. (If the real disagreement is who owns the land at the boundary — a strip fenced off years ago, say — that’s adverse possession (Form ADV1), a different procedure.)

What is a party wall notice?

A formal notice telling adjoining owners about works covered by the Act — cutting into or altering a party wall (section 2), building a new wall at the boundary (section 1), or excavating within 3 or 6 metres of a neighbouring building and below its foundations (section 6).

Who needs it & when

Any building owner whose works affect a party wall/structure or involve nearby excavation. You serve it on each adjoining owner (including leaseholders and freeholders as applicable) before starting.

Deadlines & key rules

• 2 months notice for work to a party wall/structure; 1 month for new boundary walls and excavation works.
• The adjoining owner has 14 days to consent or dissent. No reply within 14 days is treated as a dispute.
• If a dispute arises, surveyor(s) are appointed to produce a binding Party Wall Award.
• The notice must describe the works and (for excavation) include plans showing depth and position.

How to serve it — step by step

1. Identify which sections of the Act your works engage and all adjoining owners.
2. Describe the works clearly, with plans/sections where required.
3. Serve the notice on each adjoining owner, with the correct notice period.
4. Deal with consent or dissent (and, if needed, the surveyor/Award process).

How Chris helps

Tell Chris about your works and the neighbouring properties and Chris drafts your party wall notice to a high, professional standard — you check, sign and serve. Not a law firm.

See it done — a party wall notice, drafted in minutes

A Party Wall etc. Act notice, drafted to a high standard — Chris builds it from your project details in minutes. Scroll the sample below.

DRAFTED BY CHRIS · sampleSCROLL ↓

PARTY WALL etc. ACT 1996 — NOTICE

To: Mr & Mrs Khan (Adjoining Owners), 24 Oak Avenue, Leeds LS6 1QP

From: Sophie Turner (Building Owner), 22 Oak Avenue, Leeds LS6 1QP

I give you notice under sections 2 and 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 of my intention to carry out the following works:

• Construct a single-storey rear extension, involving cutting into the party wall to insert a steel beam, and excavation within 3 metres of your property to a depth lower than your foundations.

The works are intended to begin on or after 1 September 2026 (not less than two months from the date of this notice). A plan and section showing the works and excavation depth are enclosed.

Under the Act you may, within 14 days: consent to the works; or dissent, in which case a dispute arises and a surveyor (or surveyors) will be appointed to settle matters by a Party Wall Award. If you do not respond within 14 days, a dispute is deemed to have arisen.

Signed: ……………………  Sophie Turner  ·  Date: ……………………

Illustrative sample with fictional names and details. Chris drafts yours from your own facts; you check, sign and send.

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.