A Party Wall Notice is a formal legal notice served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. It informs the adjoining owner about proposed building works covered by the Act, giving them an opportunity to consider the proposals and respond before the relevant works begin. You may need to serve a notice if you intend to carry out work to a party wall or party structure, build a new wall at the boundary, or excavate close to a neighbouring building. Common examples include inserting steel beams into a party wall, removing a chimney breast, and excavating foundations for an extension. The notice must contain the information required for the particular works, including the owners’ details, the property address, a clear description of the proposals and the intended start date. A Section 6 Notice must also include drawings showing the proposed excavation and foundation details. Notices will need to be served on both freeholders and leaseholders. Depending on the type of work, the statutory notice period is generally one or two months. Serving a notice early helps neighbours understand what is proposed and allows time to resolve concerns, reducing the risk of avoidable delays.