My neighbour is building an extension/carrying out building work next door and it is affecting my property. Can the Local Authority sort out the problem for me?

 

Department: Environment Services
Division: Environment Services/Building Control

No - Any impact on your property, resulting from work carried out to your neighbour's property, must be dealt with according to the Party wall etc. Act 1996.  

This is not administered by the council but is the responsibility of the building owner undertaking the work and the adjoining owner.  If you are thinking of engaging a party wall surveyor you may wish to contact the RICS Party Wall Surveyors (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) on 020 7222 7000 (extension 492). 

If the building owner undertaking the work affecting the party wall, fails to inform you, and get your agreement in accordance with the provision laid down in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and you are aggrieved at their lack of co-operation to rectify the matter, you can in the final analysis, take court action against the owner responsible for carrying out the work to seek an injunction to stop work until such time party wall agreements are resolved.  To obtain a free copy of an explanatory booklet on the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 please contact ODPM Free Literature on 0870 1226 236 or e-mail odpm@twoten.press.net or The Citizens Advice Bureau or CALM (Confidential and Local Mediation on 020 76038777)