Party wall surveyors
in Swindon.
Swindon runs from the railway-village terraces of Rodbourne and the Victorian stock of Old Town through to very large modern estates. On modern estates the party wall is usually a timber or lightweight blockwork separating wall. Which owners assume is not covered by the Act. It generally is.
Had a notice from a neighbour in Swindon? You have 14 days to respond, and appointing your own surveyor normally costs you nothing, the building owner pays.
Covering Swindon, Old Town, Rodbourne, Stratton and the surrounding area, from Bristol.
What party wall work looks like in Swindon.
The misconception we correct most often in Swindon is that new-build semis and townhouses are somehow outside the Act. They are not: the separating wall between two dwellings is a party wall whether it is 1885 brick or 2015 blockwork, and cutting into it, or excavating within three metres of the foundations next door, engages the Act exactly the same way. If your neighbour has told you no notice is needed because the house is modern, that is not right.
We cover Swindon from Bristol, along with Old Town, Rodbourne, Stratton, Wroughton, Highworth, Haydon Wick and the wider Wiltshire area. Every matter is handled by a named surveyor who is a member of the FPWS or RICS, or both.
If a neighbour has served you notice
This is most of what we do. As adjoining owner you are entitled to appoint your own surveyor, and under section 11 the building owner normally pays the reasonable fees.
- A schedule of condition of your property, before work starts
- The structural design read with your building in mind
- A binding Award controlling scope, hours and access
- A duty on your neighbour to make good any damage
- A named surveyor you can telephone
Planning works in Swindon?
Extending a modern home in Swindon? New-build separating walls are still party walls. We confirm your notice position before work begins.
We identify which sections apply, check who the adjoining owners actually are at HM Land Registry, draft and serve the notices correctly, and manage the neighbour relationship so you do not have to. You get a written estimate before we start. Not a fixed fee guessed from a form before anyone has read your drawings.
Section 6 catches more schemes than people expect
Party wall questions in Swindon
Do I have to pay for a party wall surveyor in Swindon?
If you are the adjoining owner, the neighbour, then almost certainly not. Section 11 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 puts the cost of the works and the reasonable surveying fees of both owners on the building owner, because the works are for their benefit. If you are the one building, we give you a written estimate before we start rather than a fixed fee quoted from a web form.
How quickly can you get to a property in Swindon?
Swindon is covered from Bristol. We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day, and where a 14-day deadline is close we will take the dissent first and arrange the inspection immediately afterwards. Inspections are typically within a week of appointment.
What sort of works trigger the Act around Swindon?
The misconception we correct most often in Swindon is that new-build semis and townhouses are somehow outside the Act. They are not: the separating wall between two dwellings is a party wall whether it is 1885 brick or 2015 blockwork, and cutting into it, or excavating within three metres of the foundations next door, engages the Act exactly the same way. If your neighbour has told you no notice is needed because the house is modern, that is not right.
I've had a notice from my neighbour in Swindon. What do I do?
You have 14 days to respond, and doing nothing is not neutral. After 14 days a dispute is deemed to have arisen and the building owner may appoint a surveyor on your behalf. Your options are to consent, to dissent and appoint your own surveyor, or to dissent and agree a single surveyor. Send us the notice and we will tell you whether it is even valid, free of charge.
Which areas near Swindon do you cover?
Old Town, Rodbourne, Stratton, Wroughton, Highworth, Haydon Wick and the surrounding area, along with the rest of Wiltshire, from Bristol. We cover Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire from Bristol; Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire from Poole; London inside the M25 from London.
Speak to a party wall surveyor covering Swindon.
Ten minutes will tell you whether the Act applies, what your deadline is, and what it will cost you. Which, if you are the neighbour, is normally nothing at all.
- The building owner normally pays your surveyor's reasonable fees
- A named surveyor on your case from start to finish
- We will tell you honestly if you do not need us
No card details. No obligation. Nothing is final until you sign the appointment. A member of our office team reads every message, and a surveyor replies, usually within one working day.
More on party wall matters
- Adjoining owner rights
What to do when a notice arrives.
- The Act explained
Sections 1, 2 and 6 in plain English.
- Other areas we cover
The South West from Bristol and Poole, and London inside the M25.