Legal or procedural basis
Section 12 of the Party Wall etc. Act 1996.
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Security for Expenses Review
Evidence-led consideration of requests for security before notifiable work proceeds.
Service overview
What this service covers.
Owners or appointed surveyors dealing with a properly raised security request.
Section 12 allows an Adjoining Owner to request security before the Building Owner starts work in exercise of rights under the Act. The amount and form are fact-sensitive and should relate to a reasoned assessment, not a punishment or automatic tariff.
When this service may be relevant
- Basement, underpinning or other substantial work creates a credible completion risk.
- A formal security request has been served.
- The owners or surveyors need to agree the amount, form and release mechanism.
Who this is for
Owners or appointed surveyors dealing with a properly raised security request.
How the instruction is approached
A clear route, matched to the facts.
The Act’s requirements and any boundary procedure depend on the actual documents, ownership and site relationships. These are the usual working stages.
- 01
Define the dispute
Confirm the valid notice, appointments, drawings and matters that fall within the surveyors’ statutory jurisdiction.
- 02
Record and review
Inspect relevant condition and review structural, sequencing, access and safeguarding information proportionately.
- 03
Settle the Award
Record the authorised work and practical protections in an Award before the relevant work proceeds.
Questions about Security for Expenses Review
Useful context before you instruct.
General information only. Advice on a particular property requires the relevant documents and facts.
01Is security automatic for every project?
No. The right is to request security; what is reasonable depends on the work and evidence, and disagreement may be determined under the Act.
02Is security the same as insurance?
No. It is a separate statutory mechanism and should not be confused with contractor insurance, professional indemnity cover or a damage deposit under another agreement.
Authoritative references
Further reading
These public sources support the general explanations on this page. They do not replace advice on the facts of a particular property.
Security for Expenses Review
Request an assessment or call back.
Describe the work, notice or concern and tell us which drawings or documents you already have. You do not need to decide the statutory route before contacting the team.
Call 020 8050 0443