Enclosure cost

[TheLette]

We did a loft conversion a few years ago. Now our neighbour is doing the same. Terraced houses so her loft will be attached to the new wall of our loft conversion. The Party Wall Award requires her to pay us nearly £700 as an enclosure cost, essentially because she is benefitting from the wall we have paid for rather than having to build her own at extra cost.

I've asked the party wall guy but it all just feels a bit awkward to accept £700 from a neighbour. Is there any good reason why we should accept it rather than tell her not to worry about it?

I like money as much as the next person but we aren't struggling for cash and the awkwardness of it all would spoil any "enjoyment" of the money.

I don't think the payment is for you as such. It's for the cost of the surveyors to draw up a party wall agreement. It's down to you, as it's your wall. It's to protect your property from any damage that may occur when the neighbours build onto the wall.
I had to do this many years ago as built onto a neighbours property/wall. It wasn't a payment to the neighbours, it was the cost of setting up an agreement/permissions etc. It may have changed obviously.

It's definitely a payment to me. I'm not talking about the usual costs associated with party wall matters.

But your neighbours are saving money by you having done the work to the party wall. If you accept the money, it’s all fair. No awkwardness. If you don’t accept it, they are indebted to your goodwill (if they see it that way). Best neighbourly relationships are friendly but business-like in my experience. Take what is rightfully yours for work you have previously paid for.

Take the money and give it to charity. Get them to claim giftaid and everyone wins.

I cannot understand the universe whereby somebody needs to pay me money and I am considering saying no to it. Do you really have that much?

If so, I am really happy to alleviate you with the problem. That’s a month mortgage payment for me.

So instead of if build her own wall she can attach to OP’s
she’ll obviously save money but at the same time it has cost OP nothing

I wouldn’t mention but if she does pay it I’d give her 1/2 back you both win

I've told her to not worry. My neighbour is an older lady on her own. She is very nice and a good neighbour. Just feels all kinds of wrong to accept the money in this case.