Party wall agreements - help!

[bitzermaloney]

We are planning to build an extension in the semi we've just bought and will be doing some work on the party wall (steel beam into it).

I know that we have to serve a notice on the neighbours but want to talk to them first. I understand that they can either sign it and return it, in which case that's that, or get a surveyor (hopefully an 'agreed' one with us). What I would really like to know from wise mumsnetters is:

Is it in OUR interest to get a party wall surveyor, even if they don't ask for one, in case we do the work and some time later they find a crack (for example) on their side and blame the work that we did?

Or is it OK if they are happy to just sign the notice? I have read the leaflet on party walls notices but still can't understand exactly what the implications are. I know they are not signing away their rights, only saying that nothing is 'in dispute' at that moment, but what does that even mean?

[lalalonglegs]

If they don't want to have a surveyor then they are basically signing away their rights to redress - or it will be very difficult for them to claim that a crack didn't pre-date your building work. But, if they are the sort of people who you think might try to claim certain defects in their house are down to your extension, then it might be worth getting a pre-emptive survey drawn up .

[bitzermaloney]

Thankyou lala

We don't really know them yet except that they objected to our building plans (though I have had a friendly conversation with the woman). So not the best of starts...

[MaggieW]

I'd get a surveyor. We had a similar situation when we did our extension and the (rather tricky) neighbour claimed all sorts of things had gone wrong. Having had the surveyor involved at the start meant we had written and photographic evidence to show that our builders had not caused damage. We didn't have to get involved but let the surveyor sort it out.

When our neighbours did their extension we asked for a surveyor and I'm so glad we did, as we ended up with a massive floor to ceiling crack which meant it had to be fixed and our room redecorated. However, the stress of this happening was reduced by having a surveyor who sorted everything out, dealt with their builders and we remained on good terms with the neighbours.

I feel it's just one of those things, that while costly, is just something you have to build into the budget for an extension.