Party walls separate buildings owned by different owners, so if you live in a semi-detached or terraced house you would be sharing a wall or walls with your neighbours and this is called the party wall as it is used by both parties.
What else does the The Party Wall etc Act 1996 cover? : FIND OUT
THE PARTY WALL ETC ACT 1996 and what you need to know
This is a legal procedure that has been introduced and needs to be followed when building work involves a party wall or party fence wall or excavations close to neighbouring buildings.
The Party Wall etc Act was introduced in 1996 and its purpose is to minimise disputes between neighbours and even neighbours who are already friends. It also ensures building owners use a party wall surveyor or party wall surveyors to determine how and when the work is carried out.
The Party Wall etc Act 1996 protects the interests of anyone affected by the work while allowing the building owner to still carry out building works on or next to a shared wall.
