Most party wall jobs move briskly once notices are served and surveyors are in post. But sometimes a surveyor goes quiet—emails unanswered, dates drifting, no award in sight. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 anticipates this and gives clear ways to get things moving again. Here’s how it works in plain English.

First, work out which setup you’ve got

There are only two appointment models under the Act:

1. Agreed Surveyor – one surveyor acts for both owners. There is no third surveyor in this model.

2. Two Surveyors – each owner appoints their own party wall surveyor. Those two must select a third surveyor at the start, who can decide points if the first two can’t agree (or if one goes missing-in-action).

Your options depend on which model you’re in.

If you have an Agreed Surveyor who’s unresponsive

The Act expects that surveyor to act impartially and diligently. If they don’t, either owner can issue a short, formal nudge:

1. Serve a written request to act (keep it polite and specific: e.g., “Please progress the award by [task], within 10 days”).

2. If the Agreed Surveyor refuses to act or neglects to act for 10 days after that written request, their appointment ends under the Act.

3. The owners must then either appoint a new Agreed Surveyor or revert to the two-surveyor route (each appoints their own). This resets momentum and restores accountability.

Tip: Send that request by a traceable method (email with read receipt and a posted copy) and keep it concise—what you need, why, and by when.

Continue Reading: How to Handle an Unresponsive Party Wall Surveyor