The short answer
A 'party wall agreement' is really the party wall award plus the steps around it — serving notices, recording a schedule of condition, and the surveyor's time producing the award. For a single straightforward job with one neighbour using an agreed surveyor, the all-in cost is commonly around £700–£1,500. Where the work affects several adjoining owners, or each owner appoints their own surveyor, the total typically rises to £1,000–£3,000+, because each neighbour may need their own notice, schedule of condition and award. Notices themselves are inexpensive to prepare (often £20–£150 each, and templates are free), and a schedule of condition usually adds around £300–£600 per neighbouring property. The building owner doing the work normally pays the reasonable costs.
The agreement total is the sum of the parts: notices, schedule of condition and the award. The number of neighbours involved and whether you use one surveyor or two are the main things that move it. The figures below are typical ranges for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK costs
- Single neighbour, agreed surveyor~£700–£1,500 all-in
- Several neighbours / two surveyors~£1,000–£3,000+
- Notice preparation~£20–£150 each (templates free)
- Schedule of condition~£300–£600 per property
- Who paysusually the building owner
What the total is made up of
- Notices: served on each affected neighbour. They are cheap to prepare and the gov.uk explanatory booklet provides example wording free.
- Schedule of condition: a dated record of the neighbour's property before work starts, so any later damage can be judged fairly — usually £300–£600 per property.
- The award: the surveyor's document setting out how the work proceeds, hours, access and who pays. This is the bulk of the cost.
- Number of neighbours: a terrace or basement job can involve several adjoining owners, each needing their own notice, schedule and award.
| Component | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Notice (per neighbour) | ~£20–£150 | templates are free on gov.uk |
| Schedule of condition | ~£300–£600 | per neighbouring property |
| Award (agreed surveyor) | ~£700–£1,200+ | one surveyor, both owners |
| Two-surveyor route | ~£1,000–£3,000+ | building owner pays both |
Indicative UK figures for guidance, not quotations. Sources: BookaBuilderUK and HomeOwners Alliance guides.
Why the range is wide
The same extension can cost very differently depending on the situation. A detached-side single-storey job touching one neighbour with a co-operative response and an agreed surveyor sits at the lowest-priced end. A basement dig under a terrace, affecting neighbours on both sides plus the rear, each appointing their own surveyor, sits at the top. The honest answer is therefore a range, set by how many adjoining owners are involved, how complex the work is, and whether everyone agrees to use one surveyor.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a party wall agreement cost in total?
For a single straightforward job with one neighbour using an agreed surveyor, the all-in cost is commonly around £700–£1,500. With several neighbours or two surveyors it typically rises to £1,000–£3,000+, because each neighbour may need their own notice, schedule of condition and award.
What is a schedule of condition and what does it cost?
It is a dated record of a neighbour's property before work starts, so any later damage can be judged fairly. It usually adds around £300–£600 per neighbouring property and is well worth having to avoid disputes.
Does each neighbour need a separate agreement?
Each affected adjoining owner needs their own notice, and often their own schedule of condition and award. That is why a job affecting several neighbours — such as a basement under a terrace — costs more than one touching a single neighbour.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific project. They are guidance, not a quotation, and not legal advice.