We as Party Wall Surveyors have no authority over boundaries. We can not determine boundaries. However we do have to enable certain works under the Party Wall Act which deal with boundaries. It can sound confusing and it is confusing at times when we are trying to explain to clients that, although we can’t determine boundaries we work hand-in-hand when dealing with extensions and the boundary line.
Boundaries are closely tied to the Party Wall Act, as some of the work covered by the Act involves boundary walls. For example:
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If you’re planning to build or modify a boundary wall (such as adding a new fence or wall along the line of the boundary), you need to notify the adjoining property owner, even if it doesn’t involve a shared party wall.
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If you’re planning any excavation or construction near a boundary, you’ll need to check whether the Party Wall Act applies. Excavating close to a boundary can affect the structural integrity of neighboring buildings, and the Act ensures that there’s a legal process to follow if that’s the case.
