Party Wall Awards, handled properly — and without the delays
An award is the binding document that settles a party wall dispute — and work can't start until it's served, which is exactly why the pace a surveyor sets matters as much as the paperwork itself.
The document that lets the work start
A party wall award is a legally binding document that settles a dispute between neighbouring owners. It sets out what work may be carried out, how and when it happens, what protections apply to the adjoining property, and who pays what — including the surveyors' fees.
It is issued either by a single agreed surveyor acting for both owners, or by two surveyors — one appointed by each owner — with a third surveyor available to decide the point if the two cannot agree.
Four reasons projects stop stalling once we're appointed
Fast, proactive turnaround
Same-day response to enquiries, and we actively chase the other surveyor rather than sitting back and waiting. Awards move faster when someone is pushing both sides forward.
Properly qualified surveyors
Your award is drafted by a senior, RICS-regulated surveyor — not passed down to a junior. We handle the technical drafting and neighbour liaison in-house.
Fair to both sides, not just fast
Under the Act, a surveyor's duty is to the Act — not to whichever owner is paying. Being efficient never means cutting corners on either party's interests, and an award that isn't defensible helps nobody.
Clear communication throughout
Plain-English updates at every stage, a single point of contact, and no jargon-only correspondence. You should always know what's happening and what's next.
How we get your award signed off
We won't promise a fixed number of days for the whole process — part of the timeline sits with the other surveyor. What we control, we move on immediately.
Enquiry and appointment
You tell us about the project and the stage it's reached. Once your appointment is in place, we can act formally on your behalf.
We liaise with the other surveyor
If your neighbour hasn't appointed anyone, we help get that resolved; if they have, we make contact straight away. Stalled cases are very often stuck waiting on the other side — this is the step where chasing, rather than waiting, makes the real difference.
Site inspection and drafting
We inspect the properties, record condition where needed, and draft the award: scope of work, method, protections, access arrangements and costs, written so both owners can actually follow it.
Review and sign-off
Both surveyors — or the third surveyor, where they can't agree — must approve the award before it becomes final. We're straight with you here: this step depends partly on the other surveyor's responsiveness, not only on us.
Award issued, work can proceed
The signed award is served on both owners and the works can begin in line with its terms. A copy stays on file, and we remain available if a query comes up during the build.
Party wall award FAQs
Ready to get your award moving?
Tell us about your project and the stage it's reached. A senior surveyor will contact you to discuss how we can keep your party wall matter on track.