Party wall surveyor in Caterham, Warlingham and Oxted

Living on the edge of the Downs

Caterham sits at the edge of the North Downs, and its streets climb and fall with the land. Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Kenley, Godstone and Oxted have a mix of interwar semis, bungalows and chalet bungalows, larger detached houses and village cottages. Further east, Biggin Hill and Westerham are on the Kent and London edge.

Much of the open land around these places is Green Belt, and parts of it are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. That makes planning stricter, but it does not change the Act. The party wall process runs alongside whatever the council decides.

Sloping sites and foundations

On a slope, two neighbouring houses are rarely founded at the same level. That makes the foundation question in a Section 6 notice harder than on flat ground. A new extension may sit well below the ground of the house above it, or well above the house below. Retaining walls are common, and they need care.

• Extensions and basements on sloping plots, where the new foundations may cut below the neighbour’s. See Section 6 notices.
• Retaining walls on the boundary, which are structures in their own right. Ask before raising, rebuilding or digging beside one.
• Bungalow and chalet bungalow conversions, where a new first floor or loft bears on the shared wall. See loft conversions.
• Replacement dwellings, common where Green Belt rules restrict extensions but allow rebuilding.

Which council

This patch crosses several council areas: Tandridge District Council for Caterham, Warlingham, Whyteleafe, Godstone and Oxted; the London Borough of Croydon for Kenley; the London Borough of Bromley for Biggin Hill; and Sevenoaks District Council for Westerham. Check with the right one for planning. The party wall notices are the same throughout.

Party wall surveyor fees in Caterham

Our fees: £70 for a notice, £350 for a schedule of condition and from £600 for an award, with no VAT. Call 0800 999 1947 for a free first call.