Party wall surveyor fees in Manchester
What a party wall award costs, who pays, and how to keep costs down.
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In short
The building owner usually pays both their own surveyor and the neighbour's surveyor. What you pay depends on the type of work, how many neighbours are involved and whether they consent, use an agreed surveyor, or appoint their own. We give you a fixed quote before we start wherever we can.
What affects the cost of a party wall award
- The number of adjoining owners. A mid-terrace loft conversion usually means notices to two neighbours. Each one who dissents needs an award.
- Agreed surveyor or two surveyors. One agreed surveyor for both owners is normally the cheapest route.
- The type of work. Cutting into a shared wall for steels is simpler than a basement dug below a neighbour's foundations.
- Engineering information. Surveyors need structural drawings and calculations. If they're missing, there may be a cost to have a structural engineer review the design.
- Disputes. If the two surveyors can't agree and the third surveyor is called in, costs go up.
Typical cost scenarios
| Scenario | What happens | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbour consents in writing | Notice only, no award needed | Lowest |
| Neighbour dissents, agreed surveyor | One surveyor prepares one award and schedule of condition | Low |
| Neighbour appoints their own surveyor | Two surveyors agree the award; you pay both | Higher |
| Surveyors disagree | Third surveyor decides the disputed points | Highest |
We haven't published price bands on this preview. Fixed fees to be confirmed by Manchester Party Wall Surveyors before launch.
Our quotes
Send us the address, a short description and any drawings you have. We'll tell you which notices are needed, how many neighbours are affected and what our fee will be. There's no charge for the initial consultation.
What clients say about our fees
We have just used Manchester Party Wall Surveyors in relation to a dormer conversion. One of our neighbours chose to dissent our request and appointed their own surveyor. MPWS were professional, informative and always reachable throughout the process and their costs were approximately 25% lower than the surveyor our neighbour appointed. Thank you so much MPWS for helping us navigate the award process in such a great way.
Guy charged a fair price & delivers a first class service. He provided me with a very detailed schedule of condition which was required on a current project. He was also very generous with good, professional advice which I really appreciated as matters pertaining to party wall issues can be confusing & can potentially be very costly as there are many unscrupulous companies around. Great company to deal with.
Fees questions
Do party wall surveyors charge a fixed fee?
Many do for straightforward domestic work, and we quote fixed fees wherever the scope is clear. More complex projects, or disputes, may be charged at an hourly rate agreed in advance.
Do I have to pay my neighbour's surveyor?
In most cases, yes. The building owner normally pays the reasonable costs of the adjoining owner's surveyor because the work is being done for the building owner's benefit.
Can I challenge my neighbour's surveyor's fees?
If you think the fees are unreasonable, the two surveyors can refer the question to the third surveyor, who decides what is reasonable. An award can also be appealed to the county court within 14 days.
How can I keep party wall costs down?
Talk to your neighbours before serving notice, serve accurate notices with clear drawings, and suggest using one agreed surveyor. Neighbours who receive good information are more likely to consent.
Written by Guy Crouch BSc (Hons) MRICS, Director and Chartered Building Surveyor at Manchester Party Wall Surveyors. Last reviewed 26 October 2026. This page is general guidance, not legal advice. About our team