A party wall notice is a letter, not a legal instrument that a solicitor must draft. It names the building owner, describes the works, identifies the parts of the Act relied on and gives the date the work is intended to start. It has to reach every adjoining owner, and it has to do so early enough, because the periods in the Act are counted from service rather than from when a neighbour gets round to reading it.
Identify every adjoining owner
An adjoining owner is anyone with an interest in the neighbouring property greater than a yearly tenancy, so a converted house can have a freeholder and two or three leaseholders, each of whom must be served. Getting this wrong is the most common reason a notice is invalid, and the Land Registry title is where to check rather than the doorbell.
Give the right period
Works to a party structure require two months' notice. A new wall at the line of junction and excavation under section 6 require one month. The periods run from service, and starting early is free while starting late is not.
Describe the works so a neighbour can picture them
A notice that says works to the party wall invites a dissent. A notice with a plan, a section and two paragraphs explaining what will happen and when frequently gets written consent, which ends the process at no cost. The Act sets a minimum; persuasion is what saves money.
Serve it in a way you can prove
Hand delivery with a witness, recorded post, or delivery to the property addressed to the owner. Keep a copy and a note of the date. If a dispute follows, the date of service is the first thing anybody asks about.
Understand what silence means
An adjoining owner who does not respond within fourteen days is deemed to have dissented, and the Act's dispute procedure begins. Silence is not consent, which is why a follow up call after a week is worth making.
Questions people ask about party wall notice
Do I need a solicitor to serve a party wall notice?
No. An owner can serve a notice themselves using the templates in the government booklet. Many people ask a party wall surveyor to draft it because a defective notice has to be served again, and the second service restarts the clock.
What is the party wall notice period?
Two months for works to a party structure and one month for line of junction works and for section 6 excavation. The adjoining owner then has fourteen days to consent or dissent.
Can a notice be served by email?
The Act contemplates service in person or by post to the property, and email alone is risky unless the recipient has agreed to it in writing. Use a method you can evidence.