Welcome to First for Party Wall Surveyors

Based in Romford covering all of Havering, Barking and Dagenham in Essex.

At First for Party Wall Surveyors
We specialise in the party wall Act from notices
to party wall awards.

Confused? Need Help?

Please get in touch with us for free advice on how best to deal with your party wall matter.

Call — 01708 300199

07932 770011

We are specialist Party Wall Surveyors with a long-established base in Romford, Essex, originally serving Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster, Collier Row and the surrounding areas. Over the years our practice has grown significantly, and we now have a team of five full-time Party Wall Surveyors located across the South East. This allows us to provide a truly local, responsive surveyor wherever you are.

View our Locations Covered page to see where our team operates and how we can assist you.

If you’ve received a Party Wall Notice from a neighbour, or if they plan to carry out excavation or structural works close to your property, we can provide clear, expert advice on your rights and responsibilities under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.

As specialist Party Wall Surveyors, this is the only area we deal with. Our focus means you receive accurate, up-to-date guidance designed to protect your property and ensure the correct legal procedures are followed. We know how important it is to avoid delays, so we work quickly to help you achieve a fair and efficient resolution.

Our team can act for:

Building Owners

Adjoining Owners

Or as the Agreed Surveyor for both parties

Whether you need help responding to a Party Wall Notice, want professional representation, or simply need to understand your options, our surveyors can assist.

If you’re searching for a local Party Wall Surveyor or a Party Wall Surveyor near me, we have surveyors based across the region, allowing us to offer fast, reliable support wherever you are.

Services We Offer

Party Wall Notices
Party Wall Awards
Schedule of Condition Surveys
Loft Conversion
Extensions
Disasters & Damage
Adjoining Owner
Building Owner
Chimney Beast Removal

Types of work covered by the
Party Wall etc Act 1996

Section 1 Building on the line of junction

Building a new wall on the line of junction, this can be a Boundary wall or a new wall for an extension or new property. If the new wall is intended to be built astride the boundary a Section 1(2) Party wall notice must be served on the Adjoining Owner. The wall can also be built on the boundary but solely on the Building Owners land and the notice for this is a Section 1(5) notice.

Section 2
Work on the Party Wall

If you intend to carry out any of the following works to a Party Wall, you are legally required to serve a Party Wall Notice on the adjoining owner under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996:

Removing a chimney breast – Section 2(2)(g)

Cutting into the party wall to insert steel beams (e.g., for a loft conversion) – Section 2(2)(f)

Cutting into the party wall to install damp-proofing

Underpinning a party wall – Section 2(2)(a)

Exposing a party wall – Section 2(2)(n)

Demolishing and rebuilding a party wall or party fence wall

Repairing a party wall

Cutting into the adjoining owner’s wall to insert flashings or weather-proofing – Section 2(2)(i)

Reducing the height of a party wall or party fence wall – Section 2(2)(m)

These are only some of the works covered by the Act. If you are unsure whether your planned works fall under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, please contact us for clear, specialist advice.

Section 6
Excavations

This is for excavation, if you intend on excavations within 3 metres and to a lower depth than the adjoining properties foundations, you will need to serve a party wall notice on the adjoining owner or owners.

Section 6 also covers excavations within 6 metres, this is a little more complicated as there is a rule called the 45 degree rule.

For this i would recommend calling us for advice.

Our team includes several highly qualified and professionally accredited surveyors.

Paul Williamson FFPWS MPTS (Fellow Member), Joanna Doe MFPWS MPTS, and David Davis MFPWS MPTS are members of the Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors (FPWS). In addition, Derek Compton MPTS and Dean Hurren MPTS are respected Members of the Pyramus & Thisbe Society, further strengthening the depth of expertise within our practice.

We are the members of the following

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

As such regulated by them which means you can be assured of the highest levels of professionalism and integrity. All works are overseen by a full member of the RICS (A Chartered Surveyor).

Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors

The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors was born out of a need for education and support for building surveyors and other professionals, but also to enhance awareness and provide advice and guidance to the general public.