Party Wall Surveyor Fees: Who Pays?

The Short Answer: The Building Owner Usually Pays Both Sides

Few questions cause more confusion at the start of a Party Wall matter than the question of fees. Who pays the surveyor? Both surveyors? What is reasonable? Can the Adjoining Owner appoint a West End surveyor and send the bill to the neighbour next door?

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 approaches costs on a straightforward basis. As a general rule the Act stipulates that expenses are met by the Building Owner, on the principle that the party who benefits from the works should bear the cost of them, rather than the neighbour who has to accommodate them. In practice there is more to it than that and getting it wrong can leave Building Owners with fees they had not anticipated.

This article sets out the general rule, typical fee ranges and the practical steps a Building Owner can take to keep total fees under control, from the perspective of a specialist party wall surveyor in North London.

The General Rule Under Section 11

Under Section 11(1) of the Act, the Building Owner, meaning the party intending to carry out the works is responsible for the costs reasonably incurred by both sides in connection with the Party Wall procedures. This includes the Building Owner's own surveyor, the Adjoining Owner's surveyor (if Separate Surveyor is appointed) and any third surveyor appointed to resolve a dispute between the first two.

The rationale is straightforward. The Adjoining Owner did not ask for the works to take place. They are required to engage with the process to protect their property. It would be unjust to force them to pay for that engagement when the works are entirely for someone else's benefit.

Typical Fee Ranges

While every matter is different, the following ranges are typical for straightforward residential matters in London at current market rates:

• Drafting  and serving a Party Wall Notice: £150 to £400 per notice.
• Acting  as an Agreed Surveyor for both parties on a simple loft conversion or extension: £1,000 to £2,000 total.
• Acting  for one party with separate surveyors: £1,200 to £2,500 per side.
• Basement  excavations and complex works: £2,500 to £5,000 per side,  sometimes higher.

These figures should be taken as indicative. Complexity, the number of Adjoining Owners, the conduct of the parties, and the experience of the surveyors involved all affect the final position.

Practical Steps to Keep Total Fees Down

Building Owners often assume that because they are paying for both sides, the Adjoining Owner has no incentive to control costs. While true in principle, there are several practical steps that materially reduce total fees.

Propose an Agreed Surveyor

Where the works are straightforward and relations with the neighbour are good, suggesting an Agreed Surveyor, a single surveyor acting impartially for both parties typically halves the total cost. The Agreed Surveyor must act impartially under the Act and well chosen they offer the most cost effective route through the process.

Engage a Specialist, Not a Generalist

Specialists work efficiently because they handle Party Wall matters every day. General practice surveyors often charge more per hour and take longer to complete each stage because the work is unfamiliar. The total cost is almost always lower with a specialist.

Provide Complete Information at the Outset

Surveyors charge for time spent chasing missing drawings, clarifying ambiguities and reviewing notices. Providing a complete information pack at the start including structural details can significantly reduces the surveying time required.

Engage Early

Last minute instructions force surveyors to work to compressed timescales, which costs more and increases the chance of corners being cut. Engaging a surveyor two to three months before the build is due to start almost always produces a lower total fee than instructing four weeks before.

What About the Third Surveyor?

Where the two surveyors cannot agree, a third surveyor, selected jointly by the two appointed surveyors at the outset can be asked to make a binding determination. Where a matter is referred to the Third Surveyor, it is the Third Surveyor who determines who pays their fee. In most cases the costs fall to the party whose position is not upheld, although the Act leaves the decision to the Third Surveyor's discretion. In practice, third surveyor involvement is uncommon. Most matters settle between the two appointed surveyors without needing to escalate.

In Summary

The default position is straightforward, the Building Owner pays both sides' reasonable fees. The detail of what is reasonable and what happens in a typical situations is where experience matters. A specialist will keep your total cost lower than a generalist not because they undercut on rates but because they work efficiently, produce documents that survive scrutiny and handle the other side's surveyor without unnecessary friction.

Free Quotation from Hudson Party Wall Surveyors

Hudson Party Wall Surveyors is an RICS-regulated practice specialising exclusively in party wall matters across North London. For a fixed fee quotation tailored to your project, take a look at our I'm Planning a Project guide, or contact our team today and we will set out exactly what your matter will cost from the outset.