Party Wall Agreement. Loft conversion already started.

[dumpedanddown]

Neighbour has already started a loft conversion. I can’t remember having been served a Party Wall Notice, or signing one. It’s a large dormer conversion and involved putting in steel beams. We’re in a neighbouring terrace property.

Are Notices publically available somewhere so I can check if and when was served?

If one wasn’t served - or signed, what happens now? What do I need to do?

Are you not on talking terms with the neighbours?
Call the council.

Just to say hello to. We keep ourselves to ourselves typically. Does the council hold a record if a PWN was issued/signed? I honestly can’t remember signing one (meno brain)

No the council don’t check it. If they served it and you didn’t sign they’d have had to hire surveyors who would have accessed your property so you would remember not every loft conversion required one though. If they haven’t cut into the party wall they wouldn’t need one. Our ridge is supported by verticals within our own house because we couldn’t sort party wall notice (absent neighbours)

If a Party Wall Agreement was prepared, a surveyor would have had to have taken photographs of the inside of your property. You need to ask your neighbours exactly what they are doing.

No they wouldn't, you can just download a party wall agreement from the gov website and ask your neighbour to sign it. No surveyor or photos are required.

Wild idea, but why don't you try talking to them?!

Can you speak to Planning/Building Control at the Council?

Someone would need to take photos to log the existing condition of the OP's property.

PWA is nothing to do with the Council. It's a private matter between neighbours.

Seems to be a bit of confusion in this thread. Party wall agreement which OP refers to is generally if you sign to say you’re happy for them to proceed without a survey on your side - they should have sent you a notice letter. Award is what you get if you “dissent” and is drawn up by a surveyor after an inspection on your side, paid for by the neighbour doing the work

Sounds likely that they should have had one unless they’re staying far enough away from your wall but I think that’s unlikely unless done deliberately as PP had

A Party Wall Agreement is just for you to say you are happy for the works to proceed without a formal survey on your side. If you haven't signed one then your neighbours have taken a risk because if you later feel the work has affected your house (e.g. if you notice new cracks), you have stronger grounds to sue them basically.

Also not all works require a Party Wall Agreement so it depends what they are having done. The criteria is set out in law.

If the works meet the criteria, ask your neighbours for an agreement. If they do nothing, then your options are to take a lot of dated photos on your side and watch and wait, or if you are really worried you can apply for an injunction to stop the works - that's the nuclear option though.

It's a civil matter so Council won't be interested.

Oh ok I didn’t know that. So who polices the work to make sure it’s done properly?

Building control.

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/loft-conversion/is-building-regulations-approval-needed-for-a-loft-conversion

Building Control make sure works are carried out to comply with the Building Regulations.
The Party Wall Act is to protect the property of neighbours. Something may fully comply with Building Regs, but it can still cause damage to a neighbouring property.

Thanks @pilates- this is really useful info

Turns out they didn’t serve a PW notice so this is useful information. Thanks @PinkMicrowave

Where are they putting the beams ?

There are loft conversion solutions that go from the front to the back of the house rather than left to right. eg telebeam.

They will butt up against the party wall