The Party Wall etc. Act uses the term adjoining owner, not simply “the person next door”. Ownership can include freeholders and people holding qualifying leasehold interests. This matters particularly for flats, maisonettes and properties let to tenants.
Who counts as an adjoining owner?
The statutory definition of owner is broader than the occupier of a building. A person with a qualifying leasehold estate may be an owner for the Act even where someone else occupies the property. More than one adjoining owner may have to receive notice.
Should the notice go to a tenant?
The formal party wall notice requirement is directed to adjoining owners. Occupiers can nevertheless have separate interests in access, disruption and the work. Do not assume sending one letter to the property's current tenant satisfies the duty to notify all relevant owners.
What if you cannot find the owner's name?
GOV.UK explains options for addressing a notice to “The Owner” at the premises in certain circumstances. This does not remove the need to make reasonable efforts to establish who must be served or to follow the statutory service provisions.
Practical steps before generating a PDF
Identify the freehold and any relevant long leases, check names and correspondence addresses, and consider whether separate notices are needed. Our builder produces a notice addressed to the adjoining owner entered by the customer; it does not check land ownership records.
See how to serve notices and the notice checklist.
Based on the GOV.UK explanatory booklet and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This is general guidance for England and Wales; the applicable rules depend on the actual work and affected owners.
Preparing a notice?
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