You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I got One recently for standard house extension. It's my first so I'm clueless about if I should seek independent. Advice? Or who is liable if my foundations are affected. It'll be within 3 metres and lower foundations and no underpinning for me.
Im happy in principle and get on with my neighbour but I just want to cover myself if worst happens.
Thanks
Depends how well you get on. If it really is a pretty straightforward build and only being served because it's close to your property rather than attached to it then I'd read it, sign it and give it back. If you really want you can ask to appoint a surveyor, at their expense, who will check the current state of everything. Any damage then the neighbour and their builder will be liable, survey or not. A survey will make it easier in theory but a good neighbour will deal with any issues anyway. I prefer to keep things simple and informal but others may prefer the more official route
I’d get the survey - it protects both of you. I was on the other end and actually decided to get the survey so the neighbour couldn’t come back and say we’d damaged their house.
What nickjb says, but I would also ask for evidence that the effect on your foundations has been properly considered, ie, by a suitably qualified engineer (civil/ structural/ geotechnical depending on complexity and ground conditions).
@joebristol knows full well the saga that I went through earlier this year with my neighbours extension which included a party wall!
What I would say is that regardless of how well you get on with your neighbour, request a survey as it protects both of you. You shouldn’t worry about the cost as it is your neighbour’s responsibility; they should have factored it into the budget and if they haven’t well more fool them.
From another perspective, if you don’t have it done and damage is done to your house the good luck trying to prove it and get compensation. At least if you have had the survey then there is an independent party already involved so it removes the subjectivity, emotion and friction. Also, should you come to sell your house, the works come to light and questions are asked about whether or not it was covered by a party wall agreement and assessment then it may cause issues.
What nickjb says, but I would also ask for evidence that the effect on your foundations has been properly considered, ie, by a suitably qualified engineer (civil/ structural/ geotechnical depending on complexity and ground conditions).
They likely won’t have that and I don’t think they have to either. But if they do something and it effects your house then they have to put it right as I understand it.
@alpha1653 - I’d forgotten about your fun and games with the daft neighbour who just didn’t care about actual law!
Totally tick the box to have the survey done. Your neighbour might not have budgeted for it but that’s not your problem.
Don’t just assume that the neighbour would do the right thing if something happens and there’s no actual evidence it was due to their extension.
Thanks all. It's a single storey and Not connected to my house so I can't imagine it'd impact on me but survey is food for thought. Thanks. Again.
I just signed and handed it back as did our neighbours when we gave them one.
We did get a speculative letter from a cowboy party wall company telling us we needed £1000s worth of surveys else our house would collapse. They obviously scan the planning portal and then send out mail shots to neighbours trying to scare them into hiring them.
For reference the party wall survey was only £500 ish a few years back - it certainly wasn’t thousands.
For reference the party wall survey was only £500 ish a few years back – it certainly wasn’t thousands.
Just seems like a complete waste of money.
The structural engineer will have hopefully designed a safe building. The builders will dig the footings and if anything odd apears will refer back to the Engineer / Archirect. Building Control will come and inspect the hole and advise again (eg a friend was advised he'd have to pile as the earth wasn't stable enough once they dug down).
And if they are a cowboy outfit who don't do any of the above, having a piece of paper won't change a thing.
We are at the design stage of an extension and only last week went through the whole learning about party wall agreements. I think, just to be on the safe side I'm going to get a surveydone. It'll be a fraction of the cost of the overall extension. And yes there are better things to spend 500 - 1k on but I'd rather not take the risk and hassle. (we don't know our neightbours, is a rental, and will also be 'foundations within 3m' type of party wall)