Party Wall Agreement?

[RollsEyes]

Hello, I'd be really grateful for some urgent advice.

We live in a Victorian terrace house with an external staircase at the front leading to the front door. There’s also a front door on the ground floor (a bit like the Albert Square houses in EastEnders). Our steps are connected to the next door neighbour's. He is currently doing his house up and today has started hacking at the front steps to take them away. He has decided he doesn’t want 2 front doors - he will replace the upper door with a window and use the basement door. We are worried that removing these steps will have a structural impact on our property. Should a structural engineer be involved ? Does he need a party wall agreement to do this?

We're really worried, so would appreciate your expertise!

Hello, Steve the party wall surveyor here. If the steps are connected then there is probably a wall between them underneath [and possibly a dwarf wall above the landing] That wall would be a party wall. The party wall act grants certain rights including the right to cut away from that wall and to expose it but in order to exercise those rights a notice must be served and you then have the opportunity of getting a party wall award so on the face of it form your description party wall process should be followed. Party wall surveyors can then decide whether engineers would be useful [probably not] and the way in which the work is done to avoid prejudicing your building. There is probably little structural risk to your property but exposing the wall could make it susceptible to damp penetration and hacking away may cause impact damage. Its quite possible if the steps are an integral feature of the houses design that there is also a planning issue in removing them. Steve

Thank you so much Steve, that's very informative. Now to approach the neighbour...