01
What is a Party Wall Notice?
A notice is served before notifiable work and must contain the information required for the relevant section of the Act. Depending on the work, it may need drawings or construction particulars as well as names, addresses, a description and proposed start date.
A notice is not a planning application, a building-control approval or an award. It tells the adjoining owner what the building owner intends to do and starts the relevant response period.
02
What does “Party Wall Agreement” mean?
People often use “Party Wall Agreement” as a general label, but it can refer to different documents. Sometimes they mean the adjoining owner’s written consent to a notice; sometimes they mean a neighbourly agreement containing additional terms; and sometimes they are informally referring to an award.
The distinction matters. Written consent means there is no present dispute for surveyors to determine, while a private neighbour agreement may create contractual obligations outside the statutory award procedure. The document should say clearly what it is intended to do.
03
What is a Party Wall Award?
An award is made by an Agreed Surveyor, two party-appointed surveyors or a third surveyor acting within section 10. It commonly records the work, how and when it may be carried out, necessary protections, access arrangements, a Schedule of Condition and responsibility for relevant costs.
The surveyor’s authority comes from the Act and the matters in dispute. An award cannot grant planning permission, determine a boundary or decide unrelated neighbour complaints.
04
Is a Schedule of Condition the same as an award?
No. A Schedule of Condition is a factual record of the adjoining property at a particular time, usually using descriptions and photographs. It is often attached to an award and can also be prepared where an owner consents.
The schedule does not itself authorise work or decide the parties’ rights. Its practical purpose is to make later comparison easier if damage is alleged.
05
Which document do I need?
The answer follows the work and the response. If the Act applies, begin with a valid notice. If the adjoining owner gives informed written consent, an award may not be needed at that stage. If a dispute arises or is deemed to arise, the appointed surveyor or surveyors determine what award is required.
Do not choose a document by its label alone. Review the actual project, ownership, notice and response so the procedure matches the situation.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: notices, consent and awards explained ↗
- Legislation.gov.uk: Party Wall etc. Act 1996 ↗
- RICS consumer guide to party walls ↗
This article provides general information, not legal advice. It was last reviewed on 22 August 2026.