When it comes to improving your home—whether you’re building an extension, converting your loft, or even just replacing a fence—party wall matters are often the last thing on a homeowners Reading mind.
But ignoring them can lead to costly delays, legal trouble, and broken neighbourly relations.
Many homeowners Reading begin renovation or extension projects with the best intentions—excited to improve their space, but unaware of the legal steps they’re skipping. Here are some of the most common (and costly) mistakes made when it comes to party wall matters:
1. Assuming It’s Only Their Property
Just because the work is happening on your land doesn’t mean it won’t affect your neighbour’s property. Party walls, shared structures, and even foundations near a boundary can fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. If your work impacts them, notice must be served.
2. Skipping the Party Wall Notice
One of the biggest oversights is starting work without serving a Party Wall Notice. This isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a legal requirement. Failing to do so can result in delays, disputes, and even court injunctions halting your project.
3. Thinking a Builder or Architect Will Handle It
Many homeowners Reading wrongly believe their builder or architect is handling the party wall process. But unless they are trained Party Wall Surveyors, they may not be qualified or even obligated to do so. The responsibility falls on you, the property owner.
4. Not Keeping a Record of the Neighbour’s Property
Before work starts, a Schedule of Condition should be created—a formal record of your neighbour’s property state. Without it, you could be blamed for damage that was already there, with no evidence to defend yourself.
5. Relying on Verbal Agreements
Even if your neighbour is friendly and says “go ahead,” verbal agreements won’t protect you if a dispute arises. The law requires proper notice and legal documentation, and skipping this could leave you financially liable.
At Jason Edworthy – Your Local Party Wall Surveyor, we help you feel at ease when it comes to party wall issues. If you are building a new room, changing your loft, or digging close to your property line, we make sure your work follows the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We take care of everything for you. We serve the notices, talk with the neighbours, and get Schedules of Condition ready. We also sort out disputes by using legally binding Party Wall Awards.
We want to look after your needs, save you money and time, and help you get on well with your neighbours.
We have spent many years doing this work. Our team is friendly and always acts in a professional way. We work hard to make sure that your building job is legal, safe, and goes the right way.
If your building work damages your neighbour’s property, you have to pay for the repairs. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 says this is an important way to protect people who share a wall with you.
A professional Party Wall Surveyor will often make a Schedule of Condition before building work starts. This record shows the state of your neighbor’s place at that time. It will help everyone see if there is any damage caused by the building after the work is done.
If damage does happen, your neighbor has the right to ask for the repairs to be done at your cost or get money from you straight away.
Working with a skilled Party Wall Surveyor like Jason Edworthy helps make sure things are done right and by the law. This means there can be less trouble or fighting about the work.
The Loft Conversion Headache
Helen and Mark from Surrey got in touch with us when they were in the middle of planning their loft. Their builder told them that they would need Party Wall Notices. They did not know what this was.
They were worried and got in touch with us for quick help. We went over their plans right away. We gave all the needed notices to the neighbours. We also took full records of the neighbour’s property with a detailed Schedule of Condition.
A few weeks after we started to build, there was a small crack in the neighbor’s ceiling. Because we had good records and stayed calm, we fixed the problem quickly and in a fair way. There was no need for legal issues or any fight with the neighbor.
A Builder’s Last-Minute Party Wall Emergency
One of our regular clients—a local building firm in North London—called us in a panic.
They were just days from starting a basement dig when they realised the property works came under the Party Wall Act. Time was tight, and without the right notices, the job could be delayed indefinitely.
We stepped in immediately, served the required Party Wall Notices, and communicated with the neighbours professionally and transparently.
Both neighbours agreed without objections, and the work started on time.
Boundary Fence Dispute Defused
Richard from Bristol had installed a new fence along what he believed to be the boundary line—only for his neighbour to accuse him of trespassing.
What started as a small dispute quickly escalated, with threats of legal action. That’s when Richard reached out to us.
We visited the site, assessed the situation, and opened clear communication with both parties.
After investigating the boundary position and the works carried out, we prepared a Party Wall Award to resolve the disagreement legally and fairly.
