What is a Party Wall?
Well a dictionary definition of a Party Wall is, ‘A wall built on the boundary line of adjoining properties and shared by both owners’. Effectively both parties have an interest in the wall. For example every semi detached house has a Party Wall and both owners have an interest in the Party Wall. If the Party Wall was seriously damaged or removed both owners would be affected. If the Party Wall needed to be rebuilt both owners would normally have to share the cost of rebuilding the Party Wall.

A definition of a Party Wall from Answers.com is ''A wall erected upon a line dividing two parcels of land'.

What is the Party Wall etc. Act 1996?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 came into force on 1 July 1997 and applies throughout England and Wales. It is based on Part VI of the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939. ("The Act") affects those who want to undertake work that might have an effect on a neighbouring property. It does not prevent Building Owners from undertaking works that fall under the Act but has been put into place instead to govern works in respect of Party Walls, excavation and construction in proximity to certain buildings or structures.

How does the Act affect me?
If you intend on undertaking works to the Party Wall or excavating or building within the locality of a Party Wall, you are lawfully obligated to serve legal notice on the Adjoining Owners to obtain their agreement to your proposals or otherwise.

Works which commonly affect the Party Wall are:

• Extensions
• Internal or external structural alterations
• Damp proofing

Further excavation work deeper than your neighbour’s foundations (including detached properties) will also constitute a Party Wall matter if within 3 meters (or in some cases 6 metres) of the Party Wall. However the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 doesn't cover minor jobs including drilling small holes for fixings, inserting recessed electrical wiring or sockets and re-plastering.

What if I wish to carry out Party Wall works?
You should give written notice to your neighbour (Adjoining Owner). Normally a full two months prior to starting work or one month in the case of excavation work. It is advisable to speak to your neighbour(s) about what you are planning before serving notice under ("the Act").

Appointment of Party Wall Surveyor(s) and the drawing up of the Party Wall Award
The Party Wall Act allows both owners to appoint their own Surveyor. The Building Owner’s Surveyor will draw up a document called an 'Award' which will be sent in draft to the Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor.

What is an Award?
An Award is the record of the agreement reached by the Surveyors or the Agreed Surveyor. It will include details of the work to be carried out, when and how it will be carried out and also usually contain a record of the condition of the Adjoining Owners property before work begins. Once the content's of the Award is agreed by the appointed Surveyors or Agreed Surveyor it is published and the Party Wall works can commence.

Who pays?
Normally, the Building Owner who started the work pays for all expenses including the Building and Adjoining Owners Surveyor’s fees. However there are some exceptions to this for example situations where there is a joint responsibility for maintenance or a legal responsibility for the Party Wall largely owing to the lack of maintenance.

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