continued…

Before this however I always recommend that you speak to your neighbours, quite often you can reach an accord with them on a gentleman's handshake and proceed with the works without an award in place. If your neighbours are happy to proceed without a Party Wall Agreement in place, you should still ensure you get their consent in writing or serve notices which they can indicate their consent through, at this point you can proceed as planned subject to planning. You could suggest that your Surveyor carry out a Schedule of Condition on their property even if they have no problems with the works going ahead. These provide comfort to both parties as it will be clear what you are responsible for in the unlikely event that your works cause any damage to their property and can provide Adjoining Owners with the comfort to proceed without a Party Wall Agreement in place as they know you are willing to put right any damage. No problem.
If you have neighbours who are not happy for the proposed works to proceed without an Agreement in place they will Dissent to the notices served at which point they must appoint a Surveyor to act on their behalf within an allocated time frame or appoint the same Surveyor as yourself, the Agreed Surveyor. An Agreed Surveyor usually means a lower cost and a quicker process, do assure your Adjoining Owner/s that a Surveyor is legally obliged to be impartial.
As "building owner" and the one planning works, you are liable for both sets of fees. Adjoining Owners’ Surveyors are not required to quote in advance so their fees are calculated by reference to an hourly rate with the final figure being agreed with the building owner’s surveyor. 

If you are the Building Owner and are carrying out building works I can:

• help you identify if your proposed works are notifiable and which neigbouring properties you need to serve with the relevant Notice and associated drawings.

• serve Notices

• prepare and agree a Party Wall Award including a schedule of the condition of the neighbouring properties, to ensure that you are not held responsible for any pre-existing defects.