The costs associated with hiring a party wall surveyor are typically the responsibility of the party or parties initiating the construction work that affects a shared party wall or boundary.
Here’s a breakdown of who typically pays for a party wall surveyor’s costs:
Building owner(s): If you are the one planning and undertaking construction work that falls under the scope of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, you will generally be responsible for hiring a party wall surveyor and covering their fees. This includes expenses related to serving notice to your neighbor(s), drawing up a Party Wall Agreement, and any other necessary surveyor-related costs. These costs can also include the adjoining owner’s party wall surveyor’s fees.
Adjoining owner(s): If you are the neighboring property owner, and your neighbor is carrying out work that affects a shared party wall, you typically do not have to pay for the services of a party wall surveyor. The responsibility for hiring and paying the surveyor rests with the party initiating the work, the building owner.
Here are some general guidelines for average party wall surveyor costs:
Party Wall Notice(s): The cost of serving party wall notices to your neighbors typically ranges from £25 to £250 per notice.
Agreed Surveyor: If both parties agree to use the same surveyor (an agreed surveyor), the fees can range from £700 to £1,500 depending on the complexity of the project and the surveyor’s rates.
Adjoining Owner’s Surveyor: If the adjoining owner(s) appoint their own surveyor, the fees for the adjoining owner’s surveyor can range from £700 to £1,500.
Building Owner’s Surveyor: If you’re the building owner initiating the work, and you hire a surveyor for your own interests, the fees can range from £700 to £1,500.
Additional Costs: These costs can include hourly rates for additional services, such as dispute resolution, inspections, and reports. Rates can vary, but they may be around £100 to £400 per hour.
It’s important to note that these are average cost ranges, and actual fees may differ based on the surveyor you choose, the complexity of the project, the number of adjoining properties involved and the level of cooperation among the parties can all impact the final cost.
Before hiring a party wall surveyor, it’s advisable to obtain quotes from several surveyors and discuss the scope of work and associated fees with them. Make sure to clarify what services are included in their fees and whether there will be any additional charges.