Building work and Party Wall Agreements?

Can anyone explain this, in plain English?

Just been told neighbour is starting work on a loft conversion on Monday but has only just been asked by the builder about a Party Wall Agreement (despite planning it two years ago). To say neighbour was "flaky" about what a PWA is would be an understatement, so I need to research this myself as the scaffolding is going up in less than 48hrs.

I have no idea what work is going to carried out, how long it will take, what it involves: nada!

Mr "M" is on night shift this weekend and most of next week so his time is limited on what he can find out either and, typically, I cannot contact the planning office because ... it's the weekend!

Anyone?

 

Have a read here M it should help.
Party Wall Agreement Loft Conversion FAQs - Dormer, Velux & Gable Loft Conversions in Potters Bar, Barnet, Enfield, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Hertfordshire & North London

 

Hi,

Just had a similar situation, from what I read /understand ,basically you are under no obligation to sign such an agreement, and if presented with one you have up to three months to consider it before they are allowed to do any such works ( well in theory)

When presenting a pwa the plans etc should be available for you, your solicitor, struct engineer to inspect, and best only to sign such a form if your solicitor agrees.

Equally a lot of comment on a certain diy.not site that a pwa is not worth anything ..?

They will probably go ahead with it anyway, but you could always contact your local Building Control on Monday to check with them. Planning is probably not needed, but Building and Fire regs etc still are.

In practical terms think is down to what is between you and next door, is it twin wall with cavity or a single solid wall, the latter clearly needing more attention.
The plans , wall loadings should have been checked by a structural engineer, which the builder or neighbour should have already done.

Either way I should speak to the neighbour and ask him for details and plans of the conversion.

Think the positive about this is that the builder does seem to know about things like pwa so likely he is doing things by the book.

hth

 

Thank you folks!

It's a Victorian townhouse so I'm guessing it is a single solid wall (haven't been up there for a while and it never occurred to me to check it out).

Plan to have a conversation with them this afternoon

 

If you can only see the stretcher face of the bricks then its single skinned if you see headers as well its double

 

Thank you, I'll have to pop up there to take a look.

Just to confirm: I'm looking out for this

and this ...

 

@Zigs ...

What does this mean?

 

Did you just go outside and do that for me?

 

Sort of, I live outside

 

Not necessarily... Headers do indicate two skins but stretchers do not mean there is not another skin behind it. It could be wall tied.

 

Its sounds like there using professional tradesmen M, go up in the loft and take a few pictures of the party wall and forget about it until works finished then go up in the loft and make sure everything looks like it was before, most of the time you will never know they have been there,

If a professional tradesmen makes a mess on your side he will be aware of it and knock on your door to correct it.

 

Great idea! Thank you.

 

Agreed, but is that likely in a Victorian attic partition?