Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Party wall definition

What does Party wall mean? In practice, a party wall is a shared wall between neighbouring properties: it either forms part of a building that sits astride the boundary of different owners or separates two buildings in different ownership. It usually carries mutual rights of support and repair obligations, and is central to construction, boundary and neighbour disputes. England and Wales: Defined in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 (which also covers party fence walls and party structures). The Act controls cutting into, raising, underpinning or demolishing, requires party wall notices to adjoining owners, confers temporary access, and enables surveyors to make a party wall award...

Party Wall etc. Act 1996: Notice Requirements, Rights, Dispute Resolution, Costs, Appeals and Contracting Out (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Property Disputes expert

Practice notes

The Party wall etc ACT 1996 (PWA 1996) sets the rules for how a building owner sharing a boundary with an adjoining owner may undertake works. This Practice Note summarises the functions of the PWA 1996; for fuller guidance, see Practice Note: Party Wall works—notices, disputes and awards.

Purpose of the Party Wall etc Act 1996

The PWA 1996 applies where a building owner intends to:

carry out works to existing party walls or structures
erect a new wall or structure on the boundary line with an adjoining property, or
excavate within three or six metres of an adjoining building or structure (depending on the depth of the works)

The Act grants building owners rights to do works to party walls that would otherwise amount to trespass on neighbouring property, or create a risk of liability for the tort of nuisance. It also affords protections to adjoining owners, establishes a dispute resolution procedure and, in certain circumstances, apportions costs.

What is a party wall?

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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