How to Avoid getting Stuck with a Party Wall Surveyor
So finally you have settled on a particular Party Wall Surveyor and he has provided you with the 'appointment paperwork'. Look carefully at the paperwork and you will see that there are two parts to the it, 'authorisation' and 'appointment'. But what do these two mean to you the Building Owner looking to undertake works? At this early stage before Notices have been served on the Adjoining Owners, it is impossible to be in 'dispute' with the neighbours and without there being a dispute there can not be an 'appointment' of a Party Wall Surveyor to resolve the 'dispute'. So the only appointment that can be valid is a future one contingent on the Adjoining Owner's subsequent 'dissent'. Thus the wording will state something to the effect, that 'in the event that following service of Notice, the Adjoining Owner dissents to the works, thus creating a dispute, then the said Surveyor will be the appointed Party Wall Surveyor'. ...