{"id":25198,"date":"2020-01-28T12:44:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T12:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihbconline.co.uk\/newsachive\/?p=25198"},"modified":"2020-01-28T12:38:15","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T12:38:15","slug":"ihbc-cpd-signpost-to-dbw-what-is-a-party-wall-dispute-or-boundary-dispute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=25198","title":{"rendered":"IHBC CPD signpost to DBW: What is a party wall dispute or boundary dispute?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Boundaries and party walls are fundamental issues when dealing with old places, but disputes can occur when parties (usually property owners) disagree, so knowing what they mean and why they count is critical for\u00a0 any conservation professional; fortunately, Designing Buildings Wiki<\/a> (DBW), host partner of IHBC\u2019s Conservation Wiki<\/em><\/a>, can guide.<\/h3>\n
image: DBW<\/em><\/h6>\n

<\/p>\n

Designing Buildings Wiki (DBW) writes:<\/p>\n

Boundary<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0party wall<\/a>\u00a0disputes<\/a>\u00a0may occur when two parties, usually\u00a0property owners<\/a>, disagree regarding the\u00a0location<\/a>, width,\u00a0ownership<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0maintenance<\/a>\u00a0liabilities<\/a>\u00a0of a\u00a0boundary<\/a>\u00a0line.<\/p>\n

Boundaries<\/a>\u00a0are generally set by determining features such as a\u00a0fence<\/a>,\u00a0wall<\/a>,\u00a0hedge<\/a>, driveway,\u00a0tree<\/a>,\u00a0post<\/a>\u00a0or even a\u00a0stone<\/a>\u00a0marker. However, over years of changing\u00a0property owners<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0occupants<\/a>,\u00a0boundaries<\/a>\u00a0can be moved, diverted, adjusted and even overgrown.<\/p>\n

While the legal\u00a0boundary<\/a>\u00a0line will always be indicated on the\u00a0Land Registry<\/a>\u00a0Title<\/a>\u00a0Plan, often these will be to a very small\u00a0scale<\/a>, usually 1 to 1,250. In\u00a0practice<\/a>, this means that when a\u00a0surveyor<\/a>\u00a0attempts to determine the\u00a0boundary<\/a>\u00a0line using\u00a0Land Registry<\/a>\u00a0Title<\/a>\u00a0Plan\u00a0scale<\/a>, there can be as much as a one metre-wide\u00a0uncertainty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Party Wall<\/a>\u00a0etc\u00a0Act<\/a>\u00a01996 was passed to prevent\u00a0party wall<\/a>\u00a0disputes<\/a>\u00a0and to protect the\u00a0owners<\/a>\u00a0of the neighbouring\u00a0premises<\/a>. It sets out an\u00a0owner\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0obligations and responsibilities for the\u00a0work<\/a>\u00a0that may have an effect on other people’s\u00a0property<\/a>. It provides a\u00a0framework<\/a>\u00a0to prevent and resolve the\u00a0disputes<\/a>\u00a0with regards to the\u00a0boundary<\/a>\u00a0walls<\/a>,\u00a0party walls<\/a>\u00a0and any\u00a0type of excavation<\/a>\u00a0near the neighbouring\u00a0buildings<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to this\u00a0act<\/a>, there are three primary types of\u00a0party walls<\/a>:<\/p>\n