Party Wall etc. Act 1996: revised explanatory booklet

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To:

The Chief Executive Unitary, Metropolitan, District and London Borough Councils in England County and County Borough Councils in Wales

The Town Clerk, City of London The Clerk, Council of the Isles of Scilly The Sub-Treasurer, Inner Temple The Under Treasurer, Middle Temple

The Head of Building Control Unitary Metropolitan, District and London Borough Councils in England County and County Borough Councils in Wales City of London Council of the Isles of Scilly

Approved Inspectors

cc:The Chief Executive: County Councils in England National Park Authorities in England & Wales

The Chief Fire Officer: Fire and Rescue Authorities in England & Wales

18June 2013

Dear Sir/Madam,

Party Wall etc. Act 1996: Revised Explanatory Booklet

I am writing to you to announce the publication of a revised edition of the “Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Explanatory Booklet” produced by DCLG.

The Party Wall Act applies to England and Wales and provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings. The DCLG’s Party Wall Act Explanatory Booklet provides guidance on the Act for building owners wishing to carry out work under the Act and adjoining building owners.

The Party Wall Act Explanatory Booklet has been simplified and updated to provide some answers to regularly asked questions. For example: what a party wall award can cover, what to do if a building becomes unsafe or if there is excessive noise from work being carried out and the role of the surveyor.

Department for Communities and Local Government Email enquiries.br@communities.gsi.gov.uk Building Control System Policy Building Regulations and Standards Division Zone 5/G10 Eland House

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The revised Explanatory Booklet is only available electronically as a download publication from the DCLG section of the GOV.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/party-wall-etc-act- 1996-guidance.

You may wish to make building owners, seeking planning permission and/or building regulations approval, aware of the revised guidance where appropriate.

Enquiries

Any enquiries on this Circular Letter should be addressed to Sandra Simoni, Building Regulations and Standards Division, DCLG, tel: 0303 44 41781 or e-mail:enquiries.br@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Yours faithfully,

R J Ledsome

Deputy Director

Building Regulations and Standards Division