Party walls
Who pays for party wall surveyors, and what do they cost?
Short answer
The surveyors decide who pays, in the award (Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 10(13)). In practice it is usually the building owner, the person doing the work, who pays all the costs of the award, including the fees of the neighbour's surveyor, when the work is solely for their benefit. The neighbour can be asked to share costs where the work is needed because of a defect or disrepair they share responsibility for, or where they ask for extra work for their own benefit.
There are no set fees. If your neighbour consents to your notice in writing, there is no dispute and no surveyor is needed under the Act.
What the Act says
The reasonable costs incurred in (a) making or obtaining an award under this section; (b) reasonable inspections of work to which the award relates; and (c) any other matter arising out of the dispute, shall be paid by such of the parties as the surveyor or surveyors making the award determine.
Except as provided under this section expenses of work under this Act shall be defrayed by the building owner.
The government's explanatory booklet (paragraph 15) puts the usual position plainly: the building owner pays "all costs associated with drawing up the award", including the neighbour's surveyor's fees, where the works are solely for the building owner's benefit. The RICS professional standard on party wall procedure says the same: surveyors' fees "will normally fall on the building owner serving the notice". The Act extends to England and Wales only (section 22(4)).
Who pays in each case
| Situation | Who usually pays | Where the rule is |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbour consents in writing | No surveyor needed; nothing to pay under the Act | Booklet, paragraph 53 |
| One agreed surveyor makes the award | The building owner, as determined in the award | Section 10(13) |
| Each owner appoints a surveyor | The building owner pays both, as determined in the award | Section 10(13); booklet, paragraph 15 |
| Third surveyor called in | As the third surveyor determines | Section 10(11) and (13) |
| Work needed because of a defect or disrepair in a shared wall | Shared, having regard to use and responsibility for the defect | Section 11(4) and (5) |
| Extra work the neighbour asks for, by counter notice or otherwise | The neighbour | Section 11(9) |
| Neighbour makes excessive demands or causes abortive visits | The neighbour may be exposed to those costs | RICS professional standard, section 8.5.1 |
How fees are charged
The booklet says fees "are a matter for individual surveyors. There are no set charges." The Act allows only reasonable costs (section 10(13)). The booklet adds that an owner who thinks a surveyor's costs are unreasonable can ask for a breakdown, such as the hourly rate and the number of hours charged.
The RICS professional standard, Party wall legislation and procedure (7th edition, July 2019, reissued as a professional standard in May 2023), describes the usual practice:
- The building owner's surveyor normally agrees fees directly with the building owner.
- The award usually includes the neighbour's surveyor's fee as a lump sum based on time incurred, with an allowance for necessary later inspections.
- Only fees proportionate to the tasks needed to make the award should be included.
- Fees for an independent engineer the surveyors need to consult can be included on the same basis, preferably as a separate clause.
Published figures
The booklet and the RICS guidance give no fee levels. The figures below are published estimates, not a fee scale.
The HomeOwners Alliance, a consumer organisation, publishes the ranges below on its party wall surveyor costs page, last modified on 10 March 2026 according to the page's metadata. It attributes the project figures to Checkatrade, and gives a typical hourly rate of £90 to £450.
| Project | One surveyor | Two surveyors |
|---|---|---|
| Loft conversion | £900 to £1,200 | £1,800 to £2,400 |
| Extension | £1,200 to £1,500 | £2,400 to £3,000 |
| Basement | £1,800 to £2,700 | £3,600 to £5,400 |
The two surveyor figures are double the one surveyor figures, because each surveyor charges a fee and the building owner usually pays both. A third surveyor, if called in, adds a further fee.
Keeping the cost down
- Talk before you serve. A neighbour who understands the work is more likely to consent within 14 days, and consent means no surveyor.
- Suggest an agreed surveyor. The booklet says that for minor residential work, where fees "would significantly increase the project costs", an agreed surveyor is preferable. One surveyor means one fee.
- Serve complete notices. Clear descriptions and drawings reduce the time a surveyor spends working out what is proposed, and time is what most fees are based on.
- Serve the notice yourself if you want to. The booklet says you do not need a professional adviser to give notice.
What this means for you
Budget for the neighbour's surveyor as well as your own if consent seems unlikely, and ask for fee quotes in writing before appointing. The route to an award is set out in what happens if your neighbour does not respond.
Parallel does not act as a party wall surveyor and quotes no party wall fees. On projects we design, we prepare the drawings that accompany the notices.
Sources
- Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 10: resolution of disputes legislation.gov.uk
- Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 11: expenses legislation.gov.uk
- Party Wall etc. Act 1996, section 22: short title, commencement and extent legislation.gov.uk
- The Party Wall etc Act 1996: explanatory booklet, paragraphs 15, 16, 36 and 53 gov.uk
- RICS professional standard: Party wall legislation and procedure, 7th edition, section 8.5 rics.org
- RICS consumer guide: party walls, published 24 February 2022 rics.org
- HomeOwners Alliance: party wall surveyor costs, last modified 10 March 2026 hoa.org.uk