What does a party wall agreement cost?

There is no automatic fee for agreeing to proposed party wall work. A neighbour can reply in writing to consent to works covered by a valid notice without hiring a surveyor. What becomes expensive is often the surveyor process if the neighbours cannot agree or consent is not given.

Three very different costs

Preparing and serving the notice

You can prepare and serve your own party wall notice. The government publishes example letters for free. Our optional document builder prepares a notice package for £4.99 in supported circumstances; payment is not a statutory fee.

A neighbour's written consent

For qualifying work to an existing party structure, a neighbour may give written consent after receiving notice. This does not require a paid agreement service, although both parties should understand the proposed work and the limits of their consent.

A party wall award

If there is a dispute, surveyors may need to settle matters through a party wall award. Fees depend on the project, the number of surveyors and the work needed. The Act has rules about how reasonable costs are allocated; there is no single statutory flat fee. Get a written quotation and ask exactly what it covers.

When are costs most likely to rise?

Complicated foundations, unclear ownership, several adjoining owners, or disagreement over protection and access can increase time and expense. A routine neighbour consent does not necessarily trigger these costs. For more detail, see who usually pays surveyors and what an award does.