How Much Does a Party Wall Agreement Cost?

The cost of a party wall agreement depends entirely on whether your neighbour consents or dissents. If they consent in writing, the process costs nothing — beyond the small effort of serving the notice correctly. If a dispute arises and surveyors must be appointed, costs typically range from £700 to £2,000 in total for a straightforward residential project.

Cost Breakdown: Notice vs. Award

Serving the Notice

You have two options:

• Do it yourself (£89) — Use a tool like our notice generator to create the correct statutory notice. No legal knowledge required.
• Hire a surveyor to serve it — Party wall surveyors typically charge £150–£400 just to draft and serve the notice on your behalf. This does not include any award fees.

Party Wall Award (if neighbour dissents)

If your neighbour dissents or fails to respond within 14 days, both parties appoint surveyors. Fees for this stage typically break down as:

Item	Typical cost
Building owner's surveyor	£400 – £900
Adjoining owner's surveyor	£300 – £700
Third surveyor (if needed)	£300 – £600 per referral
Schedule of condition	Often included, sometimes £150 – £300 extra

The building owner normally pays both surveyors' fees. For a simple loft conversion or rear extension in London, total costs of £1,200–£1,800 are common. Outside London, £700–£1,200 is more typical.

What Is an Agreed Surveyor?

An agreed surveyor is a single party wall surveyor appointed by both the building owner and the adjoining owner. Because only one surveyor is producing the award, this is usually significantly cheaper — fees of £600–£1,200 for the whole process are common.

The adjoining owner must agree freely to this arrangement. They cannot be pressured or coerced. If they want their own surveyor, they are entitled to one.

Why Fees Vary So Much

Party wall surveyor fees are not regulated — unlike some other professional services. This means there is significant variation depending on:

• Location — London and South East fees are typically 30–50% higher than the rest of England
• Complexity of works — a basement dig with complex excavation provisions costs more to adjudicate than a simple loft conversion
• Number of adjoining owners — you need a separate notice (and potentially a separate award) for each affected neighbour
• Surveyor's charging model — some charge hourly (£120–£250/hr), others fixed fees
• Speed — some surveyors charge a premium for faster turnaround

Can I Reduce the Cost?

Yes — the single biggest lever is whether your neighbour consents. Here is how to maximise the chance of consent:

1. Serve a professional notice early. Give your neighbour time to consider. Don't serve notice with one month to spare and expect immediate sign-off.
2. Use the correct statutory form. A notice that contains the right information, in the right format, signals that you are a responsible building owner. Mistakes or omissions make neighbours nervous.
3. Talk to your neighbour first. A brief conversation before serving the formal notice dramatically improves relations and consent rates.
4. Provide drawings if you have them. Even basic architect sketches help neighbours understand what is planned.

Use our notice generator to create a legally compliant notice for £89. If your neighbour consents, that is your only cost.

Is the Cost Worth It?

The Party Wall Act costs are usually modest compared to the overall construction budget. A loft conversion typically costs £30,000–£60,000 — a party wall award of £1,500 is 2.5–5% of that total. More importantly, the award protects both parties if damage occurs, which makes it a sensible investment if your neighbour does dissent.