The Party Wall Act etc. Act 1996 is a piece of legislation in England and Wales designed to prevent construction-related disagreements between neighbours with a clear legal framework for managing disputes should they arise.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was created to avoid disruptive works from occurring without the adjoining owner being able to request basic safeguards and in turn appoint a surveyor to review the proposals on their behalf. The adjoining owners have rights under the Party Wall Act and are owed obligations under the Act, so each party must take care not to infringe on the rights of their neighbour.
The Act is designed to avoid or minimise disputes by making sure property owners notify their neighbours in advance of certain proposed works which are notifiable under the Act.
The Act provides a mechanism for resolving disputes and enabling works to proceed.