Improving Your Home
If you have decided to improve your home with an extension, loft conversion or refurbishment works, then we can help.
Our structural engineer has extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with the local authorities in respect of planning applications and building regulations.
He will discuss your requirements and make suggestions that are likely to get planning approval. He will draw up plans and make planning/building regulations applications on your behalf, obtain quotes from local contractors and supervise works through to completion.
Party Wall Matters
If you are undertaking extension or improvement works to your property there is a possibility that they will fall under the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 puts in place a straightforward procedure to ensure that certain types of building work are carried out lawfully and with the minimum inconvenience to neighbours.
Common types of work which will be covered by the Act include installing steel beams and padstones within walls which are shared by differing owners, excavation of trenches within 3 metres of neighbouring houses and building a wall at the boundary of two properties.
Many common types of domestic project fall within the category to which the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies. Domestic extensions, loft conversions, removal of chimney breasts, refurbishment, formation of through rooms, underpinning to existing foundations, could all require service of a Party Structure Notice. Also, if you live in a flat with neighbours above and/or below and you wish to do some work to the floor or ceiling, you may also require to serve Notice on your neighbours as the floor between you may be a party structure.
Many types of work are undertaken entirely on the building owner's property, but because they affect the party wall or an adjacent building and its foundations there is a legal obligation on the building owner to comply with the Act and serve Notice on the adjoining owner. Having obtained planning permission and/or building regulations approval does not remove the need to comply with the Act where it applies.
