Who Owns a Party Wall?

A party wall is a wall built, altered or added to between two properties. The owner of the property where the wall is located can claim ownership of the wall. However, a defendant is liable to the owner of the adjoining property if the works caused damage to the property. In this article, we will discuss the traditional party wall principle and the duty of the defendant to compensate the owner of the adjoining property.

Adding to, altering, or repairing a party wall

If you're planning to carry out building work, you should consider whether it will affect your neighbour's property. This includes any construction or repair on a shared wall.

Having a party wall agreement is important. It will protect you from disputes over shared walls and help resolve issues. Even if you own a single-family house, you can have a party wall agreement.

A party wall can be a boundary wall or fence between two properties. It can also be a part of a building. For example, a chimney flue built into the middle of the wall belongs to both parties. You will have to ask for permission from your neighbour before removing or adding to the flue.

In addition, you will have to get the permission of your neighbour before installing a new party wall. You may need to seek court injunctions to stop your neighbour from carrying out certain repairs or alterations.

Traditional party wall principle

When a building is being built, it's important to understand the legal requirements for party walls. These are structures that are shared between owners and are not part of the main building structure.

One of the requirements for a party wall surveyor liverpool is that there are no openings in it. This is to avoid causing a fire. It also helps to consider the structural strength of the wall. If you build a new party wall, you may be able to extend it, but it will have to be on the property that you are using for the construction.

Another requirement is that the wall is constructed with non-combustible material. The material should run from the foundation to the roof. This prevents damage to your own property and also helps to slow down a fire.

An alternative to building a party wall is to build a separate exterior wall. You might even want to consider a sprinkler system that is aimed at protecting two buildings.