Party Wall Surveyor Fee Calculator 2025/26

You must serve a party wall notice if your work involves: building on or at the boundary line ('line of junction' notice); work to an existing party wall or structure shared with neighbours (e.g. removing a chimney breast, inserting beams into a party wall); or excavating within 3 metres of a neighbour's building to a greater depth than their foundations, or within 6 metres on certain soil types. A party wall notice must be served at least 1 month before work starts for wall works, and 2 months for excavation works.

The building owner (the person carrying out the work) pays the fees of both surveyors in most circumstances. If the adjoining owner appoints their own surveyor after dissenting to the notice, the building owner typically pays that surveyor's reasonable fees too. The only exception is if the party wall award determines that some costs should be shared or borne differently — for example if the adjoining owner's unreasonable demands have caused unnecessary costs. Always agree an hourly rate or fixed fee with the party wall surveyor before appointment.

A Party Wall Award (also called a party wall agreement) is a legally binding document prepared by the appointed party wall surveyor(s) that sets out the rights and obligations of both parties during the work. It records the method and hours of work, measures to protect the adjoining owner's property, a schedule of condition (photographic record of the adjoining property's condition before work starts), and any financial provisions. If damage occurs during the works, the schedule of condition is used to establish what existed beforehand.