Reasonable Party Wall Surveyor fees
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does not specifically define what constitutes a "reasonable" party wall surveyor fee. The Act does mention that the surveyor's fees should be "reasonable and payable by the building owner" (Section 10(12)).
The Act does not prescribe specific amounts or fee structures.
Why doesn't the Act specify what a 'reasonable' Party Wall Surveyor Fee might look like?
The reason for not Act providing specific fee guidelines is that party wall surveyor fees can vary based on several factors, including the complexity of the project, the time involved, the surveyor's expertise, and the local market rates as well as associated business costs.
Each practise / party wall surveyor is generally free to set their fees based on these factors and negotiate them with the building owner, in our experience hourly rates typically these range from £100 - £350 per hour. The higher end of the fee spectrum might seem eye watering (and indeed it is), however, you should expect (hope for!) a more efficient service therefore in theory paying less, especially where more complex dispute resolution matters need to be catered for.
If the Act is silent on Party Wall Surveyor fees, who protects my interest?
As with any professional appointment and service ideally you would have appointed a party wall surveyor who has a reputation for service excellence and a fair and transparent fee structure.
In terms of safeguarding against erroneous and excessive 'adjoining owner' surveyor fees. There are a couple of key considerations:.
Appointing the right Party Wall Surveyor from the offset. If you have the right Surveyor they will navigate through the process efficiently. Yes, dealing with contentious parties can be unpleasant but ultimately the surveyor is proceeding under a Statutory Duty of impartiality and should be able to navigate accordingly.
Direct challenge from you surveyor. If you're neighbour does appoint a rogue surveyor, in the first instance, the building owners surveyor will need to challenge their fee. Fortunately, this is few and far between, however, we have challenged successfully on several occasions where our counterparts are simply chancing their arm.
Approach the Third Surveyor. The third Surveyor is a neutral surveyor selected under the Act to resolve disputes between the two appointed surveyors. The Third Surveyor will then assess the fees and make a determination based on what they consider reasonable for the circumstances of the case.
Going for the cheapest Party Wall Surveyor option!
It's important to be mindful however that building owners should not be chasing the cheapest option which invariably leads to higher counterpart surveyor fees and potential project delays. These bargain basement practitioners often take on excessive cases and rely on their counterpart to fill the gap's they leave behind (including invalid Party Wall Notices, and Party Wall Awards) which naturally incur additional cost from the adjoining owner surveyor for undertaking a correcting work the building owner's surveyor should be leading on.
Inadequate Representation: A poor party wall surveyor may lack the necessary knowledge and experience to properly represent your interests. This could result in misunderstandings or mistakes during the process, potentially leading to disputes with your neighbours or even legal issues.
As with most services, recommendations are always the best way to go. At TK Surveying Group we are very proud of the fact we do not advertise, with the vast majority of our appointments are word of mouth.
Obtaining a Qoute
As the Act doesn't provide specific fee guidelines, it's advisable to obtain a number of quotes to compare them to ensure that the fees charged are reasonable and in line with the market rates for similar projects in your area.
Additionally, seeking recommendations or references for surveyors with a good track record of fair and transparent fee structures can be beneficial.
It's essential for the building owner to agree on the surveyor's fees before the appointment, to avoid any misunderstandings or disputes later on.
The fees should be discussed and agreed upon in writing prior to commencement between the parties involved.
How Can we Help you?
We appreciate budgeting is key when planning a project.
At TK Surveying Group we are happy to offer where feasible a fixed fee following a FREE Initial Consultation.
Simply email your plans together with a summary of your project to info@tksurveyinggroup.co.uk and we will review your plans and offer a no obligation summary action plan with costs for your consideration.
TK Surveying Group
Call us on 0800 689 0404 / 0208 243 8981
Experts in Party Wall
Covering London | South-East | South-West | South Wales
