An adjoining owner is the person that owns the property next to or adjacent to a wall that is shared between two properties. So, if you have received a party wall notice from your neighbour you are the “adjoining owner”.
A party wall itself is a structure that is common to two or more properties, typically a wall, fence, or similar division that stands between or along the boundary of two properties.
Key points about adjoining owner and party walls:
- Shared Structure: The wall or boundary is usually structurally important for both properties (for example, a shared wall between semi-detached and terraced houses).
- Party Wall Act : In the UK, the Party Wall Act of 1996 regulates construction activities on or near party walls. Under this law, if you intend to make alterations that may affect the party wall, you must notify the adjoining owner and, in some cases, get their agreement or go through a dispute resolution process if they disagree.
- Rights and Responsibilities: The adjoining owner has rights over how their property is affected by works on a party wall (e.g., noise, vibration, and damage). The party conducting the work has to follow legal procedures to ensure these rights are respected.
The idea is to balance the rights of both property owners, ensuring no one is unfairly impacted by work on a shared structure.
