Party structure notice

A party structure notice is one of the notices that must be served where the owner of a property (known as 'the building owner') intends to undertake any construction work described in Sections 1, 2 and 6 of the Party Wall etc. Act. 1996.

A party structure notice relates to Section 2 works, which concerns existing party structures, including party walls, floors and partitions (that separate buildings or parts of buildings), party fence walls (essentially a boundary wall between lands in separate ownership which is built astride a boundary), and in some instances, a neighbour's independent property.

These works often include activities such as cutting holes for the insertion of beams and padstones, cutting in flashings, removing chimney breasts, and so on.

A party structure notice must be served at least two months before the date on which it is proposed to start that work. This is different from the other two notices (the Line of Junction notice and the Notice of Adjacent Excavation) which must be served at least one month prior to work commencing.

The information which Notices must contain are:

• The name and address of the building owner.
• The nature and particulars of the proposed work.
• The date on which the proposed work will begin.

There are a number of pro-forma notices in use, which generally include the following information as a matter of course regardless of the type of notice:

• The date of the notice.
• The name and addresses of both the building and adjoining owners (and the addresses of the properties being worked on/affected if different).
• A statement as to the commencement of works relative to the appropriate notice period.
• An advisory note explaining what happens if the recipient actively dissents from the works or fails to respond within 14 days.

Below is an example of the wording of a typical party structure notice:

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Appointing consultants.
• Approval of conditions on a planning permission.
• Building an extension.
• Construction covered by the Party Wall Act of 1996.
• Counter Notice.
• Line of junction notice.
• Party Wall Act.
• Party wall notice.
• Party wall surveyor.
• Planning permission.
• Restrictive covenants.
• Right of support.
• Statutory authorities.
• What approvals are needed before construction begins.