Explained by Dunham Hale Chartered Surveyors

The roots of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 stretch back over 350 years, to the aftermath of the Great Fire of London in 1666. In an effort to reduce the risk of fire spreading between adjoining buildings, new rules were introduced to limit the use of combustible materials, particularly timber, in party walls. These early reforms laid the groundwork for centuries of evolving building regulations.

Throughout the 1700s and into the 1800s, party wall legislation continued to develop, culminating in the London Building Acts of 1844 and 1856. These Acts introduced many of the principles and protections we still recognise today.

However, it wasn’t until the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939, and specifically Part VI, that a detailed and effective procedure for managing party wall disputes was established in Inner London. This system proved to be robust, offering a fair mechanism for resolving issues between neighbouring property owners.

Outside London, though, there was little in the way of consistent legal protection. Disputes elsewhere in England and Wales were often handled through costly litigation, even when the issues were relatively straightforward.

To address this gap, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 was passed and came into force in 1997, extending the benefits of London’s well-established framework to the rest of England and Wales.

The Act introduced a clear, legally recognised process for resolving disputes between neighbours when proposed building works:

• Affect a party wall or shared structure

• Involve building on the boundary line

• Include excavation near an adjoining property and below its foundations

At Dunham Hale Chartered Surveyors, we ensure our clients fully comply with the Act, protecting their legal rights, avoiding conflict, and helping projects proceed smoothly and professionally.