Party Wall Specialists,
Construction Consulting
& Dispute Resolution
With over 20 years of experience, Square One Consulting provides expert party wall surveying, construction dispute resolution, contract administration and project planning services across London and the Home Counties.
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Party Wall Matters
What We Do
Our Services
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Party Wall Matters
Covering all aspects of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 from serving notices and reviewing plans to producing Schedules of Condition and serving Party Wall Awards. We act for both Building Owners and Adjoining Owners.
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Dispute Resolution
Specialist construction dispute resolution across contractor/client disputes, client/neighbour conflicts, and party wall matters. A pragmatic, cost-effective alternative to litigation that gets projects moving again.
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Contract Administration
An impartial third party to administer the contract between you and your contractor managing payments, resolving disputes, conducting site inspections and ensuring the project stays on track.
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Project Planning & Design
Our experienced consultants ensure your project is efficiently managed and executed, delivering high-quality results within your budget and timeline from concept through to completion.
What Our Clients Say
Real reviews from verified clients on Google. We're proud of the service we deliver and the feedback we receive.
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Not Sure Where to Begin?
Whether you're planning an extension, have received a party wall notice, or have a construction dispute that needs resolving we're here to help.
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Areas We Cover
Types of Dispute We Resolve
Dispute Type 01
Contractor & Client Disputes
Issues between contractors and their clients are among the most common in residential construction. Disagreements can arise over payment, delays, variations to the scope of work, defective workmanship, or a complete breakdown in the working relationship.
Common triggers include: payment disputes, scope of work disagreements, delays, defective work, contract interpretation, and financial pressures on either side.
Regardless of who is at fault, our pragmatic approach is focused on one thing getting your project moving again as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Dispute Type 02
Client & Neighbour Disputes
Construction work can have a significant impact on neighbouring properties from noise and vibration, to access issues, damage claims, or disputes over shared boundaries and structures. These situations can quickly become personal and difficult to navigate without a neutral third party.
We work with both sides to establish the facts, assess any damage or disruption, and reach a fair resolution helping to preserve the neighbourly relationship wherever possible.
Our experience across construction and surveying means we understand both the technical and human elements of these disputes.
Dispute Type 03
Party Wall Disputes
Where party wall matters escalate whether due to a failure to serve correct notices, disagreements over the terms of an Award, or damage arising from notifiable works Square One Consulting can step in to resolve the matter efficiently under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
We can act as an Agreed Surveyor for both parties, or advise either the Building Owner or Adjoining Owner individually ensuring your position is protected throughout.
Party wall disputes don't have to mean delays or court proceedings. In most cases, early intervention resolves matters swiftly and at minimal cost.
The Process
How Construction Mediation Works
Why Choose Mediation?
- ✓ Significantly faster and less expensive than litigation
- ✓ Preserves working and neighbourly relationships
- ✓ Parties remain in control of the outcome
- ✓ Completely confidential nothing is admissible in court
- ✓ Flexible, informal setting no courtroom required
- ✓ Legally binding agreement once reached
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Ready to Resolve Your Dispute?
We aim to respond to all enquiries within one working day. Call us or use the contact form for a free initial consultation.
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Your Guide
The Party Wall Act
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls, and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
Section One
What is the Party Wall Act?
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a piece of legislation that came into force in England and Wales on 1 July 1997. It applies to works that directly affect a shared wall, boundary, or structure between two properties or excavations within certain distances of a neighbouring building.
If you intend to carry out any building work that falls under the Act, you are required to serve formal written notice on your neighbours before work begins. Failure to do so can result in injunctions, legal proceedings, and significant delays to your project.
"The Act aims to enable building owners to carry out reasonable works whilst protecting the interests of adjoining owners."
Section Two
Who is the Building Owner?
The Building Owner is the person or entity who wishes to carry out the building works. This might be someone planning a rear extension, a loft conversion, underpinning, or any excavation work close to a shared boundary.
As the Building Owner, you have specific obligations under the Act. You must serve the appropriate party wall notices in advance typically 1 or 2 months before work starts, depending on the type of work involved.
Importantly, the Act also grants Building Owners certain rights to carry out works that might otherwise be considered a trespass or nuisance provided the correct procedures are followed.
A Building Owner who fails to serve notice may face an injunction to stop the works until proper notices have been served and an Award made.
Section Three
Who is the Adjoining Owner?
The Adjoining Owner is any person who owns land, a building, or a flat that is adjacent or in proximity to the proposed works. This includes both freeholders and leaseholders with leases of more than one year.
When you receive a party wall notice, you have three options: you can give your written consent to the works, you can dissent and appoint your own surveyor, or you and the Building Owner can jointly appoint an Agreed Surveyor to act impartially on behalf of both parties.
It is important to respond to a party wall notice within 14 days. If you do not respond, you are deemed to have dissented, and a Party Wall Surveyor will be appointed on your behalf.
As an Adjoining Owner, you are entitled to have a Party Wall Award drawn up to protect your property at no cost to you in most cases.
Need Advice?
Speak to a Qualified Surveyor
Not sure if the Party Wall Act applies to your project? Contact Square One Consulting for a free initial consultation.
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Our Services
Project Management & Contract Administration
How We Help
What Does a Contract Administrator Do?
Contract administration means there is a qualified, impartial party overseeing the relationship between you and your contractor. Think of us as the referee. We are not on the contractor's side, and we are not simply an advocate for the client. Our job is to make sure the contract is followed fairly by both parties and that the project moves forward as it should.
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Contract Review and Setup
Before work begins, we review the contract documents, drawings and specification to ensure everything is clearly defined. Vague scope descriptions are one of the leading causes of disputes, and we address these before they become a problem.
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Site Inspections
We carry out regular site visits throughout the project to monitor progress, check the quality of workmanship against the specification, and flag any issues early before they become costly to rectify.
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Payment Certification
We review and certify each payment application from the contractor. Clients should only pay for work that has been properly completed to the required standard. We make sure you are never overpaying at any stage of the build.
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Variations and Changes
Any changes to the original scope of works should be formally instructed and priced before being carried out. We manage this process end to end, ensuring variations are agreed in writing and that you are never faced with unexpected costs at the end of a project.
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Dispute Prevention and Resolution
Most construction disputes are avoidable. With a contract administrator in place from the outset, issues are identified and addressed before they escalate. If a dispute does arise, we are already familiar with the project and can step in quickly to help resolve it.
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Practical Completion and Snagging
At the end of the project, we carry out a thorough snagging inspection and issue the Certificate of Practical Completion only once the works meet the required standard. We also manage the defects liability period to ensure any outstanding issues are resolved by the contractor at no additional cost to you.
The Process
How We Work With You
Why Does This Matter?
Most residential clients have never run a construction project before. Contractors, on the other hand, do this every day. Without someone in your corner who understands the contract, the process, and what good work looks like, the balance of power sits firmly with the contractor.
We level that playing field. Our involvement typically costs far less than the disputes, overcharging and defective work we prevent.
Not Sure If You Need Us?
When Should You Appoint a Contract Administrator?
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Extensions and Loft Conversions
Any significant works to your home where the contract value is over £20,000 warrants independent oversight.
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Project in Difficulty
If your project has stalled, costs are spiralling, or communication with your contractor has broken down, we can step in at any stage.
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No Formal Contract in Place
Working without a contract is common and risky. We can help you put the right agreements in place before work starts.
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Facing a Dispute
Whether it is a payment dispute, defective work, or a disagreement over scope, we can advise and help you reach a resolution.
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Ready to Protect Your Project?
Get in touch today for a free initial consultation. We will tell you honestly whether you need us and what our involvement would cost.
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