Party Wall Legislation and Procedure, 7th Edition

This professional standard provides guidance for RICS members who accept instructions for which the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 may be relevant. It also describes the circumstances in which the Act will apply, as well as the procedures to be followed where it does. The role of surveyors when acting for a client in the early stages of these procedures is addressed, as is the duty of surveyors who are formally appointed to administer the Act’s dispute resolution mechanism. It assumes that those accepting such appointments possess the necessary knowledge and professional competence to do so, as guidance on that matter is outside the scope of this publication. This guidance note deals only with matters connected with the Act, and members are thus advised that other legal, regulatory and practical considerations may also be relevant in particular instances of construction work close to a boundary. The role of a party wall surveyor is a statutory one and one that is independent of instructions from an appointing party. However, the surveyor acting in this role must comply with the RICS Rules of Conduct insofar as they do not conflict with the provisions of the Act.