The Party Wall Act 1996 is applicable when you want to work on a shared structure or wall. That is why you might be wondering if you need a party wall agreement for a loft conversion in North London. The act applies to extension work, and loft conversion is one of them.
If you are planning to extend your space, here is what you need to know about the Party Wall agreement.
The Party Wall Act 1996
Before we understand if you need an agreement, you need to understand the act. It requires every homeowner to notify the property owners next to them if they are carrying out any extension work on the party or shared wall. Keep in mind that you don’t need to serve the agreement if you are doing a simple loft conversion.
However, if you are making any structural changes to the shared wall, then you will have to give them a notice. You will require permission in writing from the homeowners of the adjoining property. You can talk to a qualified building professional if you want to understand whether you will need to opt for this agreement.
The Party Wall Agreement
The Party Wall agreement is a document that will ensure the written consent of the neighbouring homeowners. You will have to inform the neighbour of the changes by serving a party wall notice. A typical notice will include:
- Your address and name
- When you plan on starting the work
- A complete description of what you plan on doing, along with any drawings and plans
- The building address that you need to work on
You can create the document yourself, or you can opt for a surveyor. Once you serve this notice, even the neighbouring homeowner can hire a surveyor to represent them.
Keep in mind that if you are planning a loft conversion with structural changes to the party wall, you will have to give the notice at least two months before you plan on starting the work.
When You Might Need A Party Wall Agreement For Loft Conversion
There are certain loft conversions that will require a party wall agreement. These include:
- Underpinning the thickness of the shared wall
- Removing chimney breast from party wall
- Increasing the height or thickness of the party wall
- Rebuilding part of the wall
- Demolishing part of the wall
- Cutting the party wall to use it as a load-bearing wall for a support beam
- And much more
If you plan on making any of these changes, you will need a party wall agreement for your loft conversion. Be sure to give the notice at least two months before.
Final Thoughts
That is everything you need to know about the party wall agreement and loft conversions. If you plan on making any such changes, be sure to create an agreement and offer this notice to your neighbours. After that, you can come to an agreement and decide whether you can move forward with this or not.
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