Who you will deal with
Simply Party Walls is run by Ivan Larkin ACABE MFPWS MPTS, who is the company’s only practising party wall surveyor. Under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 a surveyor is appointed personally, by name, so when you appoint us the appointment is to Ivan. He has worked in construction for over 37 years. Before he moved into party wall surveying he was a registered house builder with LABC and NHBC, and he worked on residential developments and large-scale infrastructure projects.
That background matters in this work. A party wall award has to work on site as well as on paper. Knowing how a loft conversion is framed, how foundations are dug and in what order a basement is underpinned makes it easier to read drawings, to spot what a notice has missed and to write conditions that a builder can actually follow.
Qualifications and memberships
Simply Party Walls Ltd is the company Ivan practises through. These are Ivan’s own professional memberships, held in his name and not in the company’s.
How we work
- A free first call. We listen, tell you whether the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, and say plainly if you do not need us.
- A fixed fee in writing. Our published fees are £70 for a notice, £350 for a schedule of condition and from £600 for an award, with no VAT. Your written quotation says exactly what is covered. See our fees.
- Plain English. The Act is not written for homeowners. We explain what each document means, what each deadline is and what happens if it is missed.
- Fairness. Whoever appoints us, a surveyor under the Act must act fairly. As an agreed surveyor we owe a duty to both owners.
- Keeping you informed, so that your builder knows what date to book and your neighbour knows what to expect.
What we do
- Party wall notices, prepared and served correctly
- Schedules of condition of the neighbouring property
- Party wall awards as agreed surveyor
- Advice and representation for building owners and for adjoining owners
Where we work
We are based in Banstead and act across London, Surrey and the South East. Choose your area on the areas we cover page.
What clients say
Building owners and neighbours we have acted for can leave a review on Google. Read what our clients say. If we have acted for you, you can leave a review on Google.
About the guides on this site
The guides explain the Act in plain English, and they are based on the Act itself and the government’s explanatory booklet. They give general information, not legal advice, and every project is different. If you are not sure how a guide applies to you, call us for free on 0800 999 1947.
Company details
Simply Party Walls Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 15523789. Our registered office is 79 Hillside, Banstead, England, SM7 1EZ.
Questions about the firm
Who will act as my surveyor?
Ivan Larkin. He is the only practising party wall surveyor at Simply Party Walls Ltd, and an appointment under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is personal: the surveyor is appointed by name. The company is how Ivan practises, and the memberships shown on this site are his own.
Are you impartial?
When we act as an agreed surveyor, yes. The Act requires an agreed surveyor to act impartially for both owners, whoever pays the fee. When we act for one owner, we protect that owner’s interests within the Act and the award is still made fairly between the two.
Do you only work in Banstead?
No. Banstead is where we are based. We act across London, Surrey and the South East. See the areas we cover.
Is the first call really free?
Yes. We tell you whether the Act applies to your work, which notices are needed and what we would charge, and you decide what to do next. There is no obligation.