It can be done by one person, who may be one of the Party Wall Surveyors; an independent surveyor; the builder; the designer; or Building Owner, provided that the Adjoining Owner agrees.
Or it can be done jointly by both Owners.
Should the Adjoining Owner not agree to allow a survey to be made, then if any damage does appear, it will be impossible to allocate blame to the works, and any claims for compensation or repair may not be successful.
Similarly, if the Building Owner fails to do a survey, then any claims for compensation or repair may be successful, even if any damage that does appear, was not a result of the works.
The survey should note the visual condition of parts of the adjoining property that might be affected by the works.
If the works are to a Wall;
- the shared wall, attached floors and partitions, and external walls to the first window in the front and back walls.
- It should include notes of anything permanently attached to the walls, such as shelves and cupboards.
- shared floor(s), supported partitions, and ceiling over;
- It should include notes of anything on the floor, such as cabinets, white goods, bathroom and toilet sanitaryware.
- It should include the external condition of the adjacent building, and internal associated rooms and contents within the appropriate distance limit from the excavations.
The survey should be recorded in a report, and should include diagrams, and photographs, as well as adequate descriptions.
The Adjoining Owner should agree the contents of the report, and sign the document, and copies should be held by both Owners. Once this is done the work can start.