Have found ourselves in a really awkward situation with our neighbours - will probably out myself if she's on Mumsnet but I'm not saying anything bad I don't think.
Basically we are currently living overseas and renting out our family home - to which we intend to return within the next couple of years. We are friends with our adjoining neighbours, having lived next door to each other for 3 years before moving away.
Anyway, they are planning an extension at the rear of their property - they emailed us the plans, we had a couple of questions, no problem and we didn't challenge their planning permission or anything...
Now they have emailed us the party wall agreement. Before signing I mentioned it to a friend of mine who is a property solicitor and she said that I must seek advice from a surveyor. I have done so and it seems that we should appoint an independent surveyor to represent our interests (i.e. the safety of our property). There are various complications that could arise for us in respect of the work they are doing. And it transpires that if we appoint a surveyor our neighbours need to pay for this. I feel really awkward about it; the neighbours never mentioned any of this, just forwarded the agreement and asked us to sign and return it. I don't know how to handle it with them as don't want to upset them but on the other hand our property is our most significant investment and we can't afford to take a chance that this all goes wrong.
Anyone been there or got any advice? Would you appoint a surveyor or just leave it to them?