Quick guide to party walls

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Published by a LexisNexis Property Disputes expert
Practice notes

Quick guide to party walls

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published by a LexisNexis Property Disputes expert

Practice notes
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The Party wall etc ACT 1996 (PWA 1996) provides a framework that Controls how a building owner who Shares a boundary with an adjoining owner can carry out works. This Practice Note provides a summary of the functions of PWA 1996. For more detailed guidance, see Practice Note: Party Wall works—notices, disputes and awards.

Purpose of the Party Wall etc Act 1996

PWA 1996 affects any building owner that wishes to:

  1. •

    work on existing party walls or structures

  2. •

    construct a new wall or structure at the boundary line with an adjoining property, or

  3. •

    excavate within three or six metres of an adjoining building or structure (depending on the depth of the works)

PWA 1996 works by giving building owners rights to do work to party walls that would otherwise be a trespass to neighbouring property, or would risk liability for the tort of nuisance. It also gives certain protections to adjoining owners, creates a dispute resolution method and apportions costs in certain cases.

What is a party wall?

A party wall is

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Related legal acts:
Key definition:
Party wall definition
What does Party wall mean?

A wall that forms part of a building which stands on land belonging to different owners or which separates buildings belonging to different owners.

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