Party wall agreement?

[pitterpatterrain]

Does anyone know when is a party wall agreement needed or not?

Our neighbour has just told me they are starting work next week on their basement and kitchen - including raising the joint wall apparently (galley kitchen out the back type thing), and we are in a terrace but not heard anything on that front

We have had to get party wall agreements with neighbours on both sides. A month notice for excavations and two months notice for party walls. If you haven't signed anything I don't think they can start work next week. Can you call your council for advice?

You can also try phoning the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors).

They have a scheme where you can get to speak to a qualified Party Wall Surveyor in your area for free for a few minutes.

They were really helpful.

www.rics.org/uk/footer/contact-us/

Thanks - super helpful!

I was really surprised, as we are planning some work in the future and thought we would have to get things signed

If you're in a terrace and your neighbour is digging a basement, I can't imagine any scenario where you wouldn't need a party wall agreement.

Your neighbours would need a party wall agreement even if their proposed works came under permitted development. On the other hand they may have got planning permission from the council (unless they were planning to bypass that too!) Have you checked the council website? Would give you clues to what they are proposing to do and also the name of the relevant planning officer. Were they at all abashed at telling you about these building works? How did you react?! I'd have been furious!

Nope nothing on planning website

It’s just a bit weird - we have walked them through the plans we have, even though we are not yet at the building stage yet nothing from there side - it was all very “we’re thinking of doing it..” - not very tangible before

We were both sorting DC at the time so limited opportunity to call it out more directly

You're within your rights to get an injunction stopping them from starting work. I know it is tricky potentially if you have your own building works in mind but the point of a party wall agreement is to protect both parties in case their works damage your property.

Surely they would need planning permission? And surely the council would contact you once they have applied for pp so you could raise concerns or give support.
And I wouldn’t be happy at all with them arbitrarily telling you they are starting next week!
Tomorrow morning I would be straight on the phone to the council and speaking to my solicitor and asking him about the legalities of this action and if you need to get some form of injunction to stop them starting works next week.
ALSO - and this is vital- Check your home insurance policy covers you in case the twit next door brings your house down! It has happened before and it will happen again to unfortunate people. Make sure you get your policy checked by somebody who understands 8nsurance.