Closing off loft in terrace - neighbour?

[francienolan]

We're in the process of buying an Edwardian end of terrace house. The survey flagged that the loft is not separated from next door's loft and recommended getting this closed up.

We got a recommendation for a builder who gave us a quote for this and a couple of other little jobs we want done, haven't booked him in for a specific date yet as we haven't got an exchange and completion date yet.

I'm just reading about the party wall act and was wondering if this applies here? If so, how do we let the neighbour know? Is it a matter of letting her know, or do we have to get permission as well?

It seems like pretty common work to do from a mumsnet search (and recommended!) but I can't see anything about the neighbours in this situation. It seems like it shouldn't affect the house next door except for during the actual work when they'd be able to hear it, but we're FTB and I don't really know anything about this.

OP I had the same work done in a terraced property a few years ago. I sold it last year with no issues.
There was no mention of the party wall act from my builder, the neighbour, or the conveyancer.
I've no idea if that was correct, but that's my experience.

Thanks @vapinghot--I suppose this is something we could ask our solicitor as well? The valuation report said it was a security/fire risk to leave it open, which I agree with, hopefully the neighbour would too. In this type of situation do you just knock on the door and introduce yourself, and give them a heads up? I would hate to start off on the wrong foot, want to make sure we're doing everything right! :)

The house next door was tenanted, so I found out who the landlord was and just informed him we were having it done.
Yes it is a fire risk, so needs to be done. It's not a huge job though.
Best of luck

Thanks very much! :)

We’re an Edwardian semi detached. There was no firewall when we moved in and neighbours were already aware and had been told that they had to get it sorted when they bought their house 2 years before we bought ours.
Wall wasn’t built until 6 years later when they had their loft converted.

It’s definitely a security risk and fire risk. My DM was burgled by her neighbour’s DS years ago via the loft hatch.

I would have thought the party wall act would apply. You are building within 3 m of your neighbours property. Clearly the building will affect next door so it needs a party wall agreement.

You inform your neighbour of the work you want to do. Is the wall partly on her property or wholly on yours? You engage a party wall surveyor and get a PW agreement drawn up. This then goes to the neighbour. She agrees it or disputes it. You need to be aware of the existing condition of her house and the ability of what is under the new wall to take the load. Although not a big issue if it’s a stud wall. Are you building it off her property though? This needs to be established and agreed as the joists are probably shared between the houses.

Thanks everyone! Very helpful!

I would just introduced yourself to the neighbors and if you pay for all the work they are usually quite happy to go ahead as it benefit them as well for free and they will have the same trouble if they ever decide to sell in the future .

The weight of concrete blocks may cause minor cracking on the wall below and often a lighter breeze block wall may be more appropriate if they comply with fire regs

its difficult work and minor damage and cracking may result to ceiling and walls below due to walking on them and extra weight its best to point this out at the beginning .

If they are in agreement and agree to the the work I don't see the need for a party wall agreements . if they refuse then you will need to go down the party wall route .