Your Neighbour Just Served You a Party Wall Notice in Bath — What Now?
A plain-English guide for Bath homeowners who've received a Party Wall notice. Your three options, the 14-day clock, and why representation costs you nothing.
Receiving a party wall notice through your letterbox in a Bath Georgian terrace or Bear Flat semi is unsettling — but the Act exists to protect you, the adjoining owner. Here's what the document actually means and what to do next.
Your three options (and the 14-day clock starts now)
- Consent. Quick and free, but you give up the protection of a Schedule of Condition and an Award. Rarely the right call where excavation or structural work is involved.
- Dissent and appoint your own surveyor. The building owner pays your reasonable surveyor fees. This is the route most Bath homeowners take.
- Dissent and agree a single "Agreed Surveyor" with your neighbour. Cheaper for the building owner, but you share a surveyor who must act impartially.
If you do nothing for 14 days, the Act treats it as a deemed dispute — a surveyor will still be appointed on your behalf, just without your input on who it is.
Why dissenting is almost always the right move in Bath
Bath's housing stock — Georgian limestone, Victorian terraces in Oldfield Park, basement-prone properties in Larkhall — is particularly vulnerable to settlement cracks from neighbouring excavation and basement works. A Schedule of Condition gives you a dated photographic baseline so any new damage can be traced and remedied at the building owner's cost.
What it costs you: £0
The Party Wall Act is clear: the building owner pays the reasonable fees of both surveyors. Our Adjoining Owner Representation is therefore free to you. We review the notice, inspect your property, agree the Award and protect your interests throughout.
What to send us
- A scan or photo of the notice
- Your address and contact details
- Any drawings the building owner has shared
We'll respond within one working day and handle the rest. The 14-day clock is real — don't let it run down.
Get a fixed quote for your Bath project
60-second eligibility check. Tells you exactly which notices apply and the total fixed fee — before you commit to anything.