Portsmouth's tight terraced housing makes the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 a constant presence on local building projects. Loft conversions on the Victorian and Edwardian terraces through Southsea, Eastney and Stamshaw, rear extensions across the dense streets of North End and Fratton, and basement work on the older naval housing stock all routinely require party structure notices, line of junction notices, or excavation notices.
CHP Surveyors has been established since 2004 with offices in Wickford, London and Hampshire. The team is RICS regulated with an established Hampshire presence. Coverage extends to Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Waterlooville and Cosham. Larger commercial schemes near the harbour and dockyard often pair with airspace development advice on rooftop or air rights work, particularly across the dense central wards.
James Crowley is the past London and National Chair of The Pyramus and Thisbe Society, an organisation with a great interest in party wall and neighbourly matters.
Having been involved in projects across the UK for both domestic properties and larger, city centre developments, we have experience and knowledge of the more complicated methods of construction, including temporary restraint works, piling to form a triple basement and jet grouting. We have also negotiated licences for the use of scaffolding and tower cranes.
All Portsmouth party wall instructions open with a free initial assessment from a qualified surveyor on our Hampshire team. The first conversation covers the proposed works, the relevant sections of the Act, and the notice strategy. Given the city's dense terraced character, this typically means party structure notices for most extensions and loft conversions, line of junction notices for new boundary walls on infill plots, and excavation notices for basement digs.
After the assessment the surveyor drafts and serves the notices, manages adjoining owner responses, and produces a thorough schedule of condition with photographs and detailed written notes. Tight terraced housing means schedules cover both internal and external party walls in careful detail. Where the matter is agreed paperwork stays proportionate. Where dispute arises the party wall award is drafted properly and served. Calls stay with the named surveyor throughout. Building owners and adjoining owners across Portsmouth get continuity from first contact to final document.
Over the past four years, CHP have worked very successfully with us in their capacity as party wall surveyors. Through his calm, sensible approach and excellent communication skills James Crowley, in particular, gained the trust and confidence of the entire team and stakeholders. Looking forward to working with CHP again.”
- Clare Goggin, Jackson Coles
A well-handled party wall process on a Portsmouth project protects the build programme, the relationship with adjoining owners on either side, and the legal position if damage is alleged after completion. Valid notices, a detailed schedule of condition recorded before any disturbance, and a signed award where required all reduce dispute risk on builds that often have neighbours within metres on either side.
Notice periods under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 are fixed: two months for party structure works, one month for excavations within the three or six metre thresholds. The building owner generally covers reasonable surveyor fees on both sides. For Portsmouth projects, where party walls are a feature of nearly every residential build, getting the process moving early matters. To discuss a specific scheme, book a free initial assessment.
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
020 3714 4090
Get in touch.
Head Office
2-6 Boundary Row
London, SE1 8HP
Essex Office
2nd Floor, 10 High Street
Wickford, Essex
SS12 9AZ
020 3714 4090
enquiries@chpsurveyors.com
