Need a party wall notice in London? You can prepare and serve a notice yourself when you have the right facts and documents. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies throughout England and Wales; it is not a special London council form. Our guided online checker is free, with an optional £4.99 PDF package for supported straightforward notice types.
In London, a loft conversion in a terrace, structural changes to a converted flat, and a basement extension are three very different party wall situations. A city name alone cannot tell you which statutory notice you need. The important facts are the shared structure, the proposed work, the adjoining owners and any excavation levels.
Which notice might your project need?
| Work to check | Notice route | Usual minimum period |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting into, raising or altering a shared party structure under the Act | Section 3: party structure | Two months |
| Building a new wall on the line of junction | Section 1: line of junction | One month |
| Qualifying excavation close to a neighbouring building | Section 6: adjoining excavation | One month; drawings required |
The correct route depends on the specific notifiable work, not whether you call it an extension or a renovation. One project can need multiple notices. Check the notice periods and the basic eligibility questions before completing any form.
London project examples: what changes the answer?
These are hypothetical scenarios to show how to think about the Act. They are not case studies of local customers or projects we have inspected.
Terraced loft conversion in Islington
Imagine a loft design that rests two steel beams in pockets cut into the shared masonry wall. That work can engage section 2 of the Act and call for a section 3 party structure notice. The project label “loft conversion” is not enough: the drawing needs to show what is being done to the wall. Loft conversion guidance.
Converted flat in Hackney
Suppose an owner plans structural alterations to a wall or floor separating flats. First establish what is a party structure and which long leaseholders or freeholders qualify as adjoining owners. Serving only the person living next door may miss a relevant ownership interest. Flats and leaseholds.
Basement or deep excavation in Ealing
A basement proposal near a neighbour can raise the section 6 distance-and-depth tests and may also involve work to a party structure. Engineering sections, excavation depth and the neighbour’s foundation details must be assessed. Our automated PDF builder does not generate section 6 notices. Excavation notices.
Do London boroughs issue party wall notices?
No. The party wall process is a private statutory process between owners, separate from the planning application handled by the relevant London borough. London has several planning authorities, so use the authority responsible for the actual property to check any planning requirements. A planning approval letter is not an adjoining owner’s written consent. For local planning enquiries, consult London City Hall’s list of borough planning authorities.
Checklist before serving a notice in London
- Identify the actual London borough rather than assuming the Mayor handles a householder planning application.
- Check freeholder and qualifying leaseholder interests when a project is in a converted house or flat.
- If basement works are planned, request foundation-level and excavation section drawings before selecting a notice.
- Identify every relevant adjoining owner and keep proof of how and when you served the notice.
- State the proposed start date with sufficient notice after service, and record how long the notice remains effective.
Can I prepare a London party wall notice myself?
Yes, an owner may prepare and serve their own notice where the facts support it. A complex basement, uncertain ownership or a dispute can justify independent surveying advice. This website is an online document preparation service, not a London surveyor practice.
What does the £4.99 online package give you?
If your answers fit a supported notice category, you can enter the owners, property, proposed works and date into the guided builder. Review the information before paying. The PDF download includes a personalised notice draft, a neighbour response sheet and a service checklist. This is customer-prepared paperwork that you must check for accuracy and suitability before service.
Not sure whether to begin? Use the UK party wall notice template guide to compare the different routes. If a neighbour dissents, the surveyors and dispute process may be necessary; paying for a notice alone will not resolve it.
Prepare your notice
Check your London project for free. A personalised PDF package is £4.99 if your work fits the supported types.
Other locations
We offer the same online document preparation service throughout England and Wales. Browse the locations directory.
Read GOV.UK's party wall overview and the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Local examples are illustrative; this website is not a local surveyor practice or a source of legal advice. The builder is limited to selected notices, not every project.
Updated 22 October 2026.