Where Are Party Wall Agreements Registered?

Party wall agreements and awards are not registered at Land Registry and will not appear in standard property searches. This surprises many homeowners — and many conveyancing solicitors. Here is everything you need to know about where party wall records are held, and what to do when you are buying or selling a property where party wall works have taken place.

Why Party Wall Awards Are Not Registered

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does not create any requirement or mechanism for registering awards at Land Registry. Unlike, say, a restrictive covenant or a legal charge, a party wall award is a document between two specific parties about specific works — it is not a permanent encumbrance on the title.

This means:

• A standard OS1 or official copy of the title register will not mention any party wall awards
• A local authority search (LLC1) will not include them
• There is no central database of party wall awards in England and Wales

Where Are Party Wall Records Held?

Records of party wall notices, awards, and schedules of condition are held privately by:

• The building owner (the person who carried out the works)
• The adjoining owner (the neighbour who received the notice)
• The surveyors who produced the award (usually for a period set by their own document retention policy)
• Any solicitors who were involved on either side

When the building owner sells their property, the party wall documents should form part of the property paperwork handed to the buyer's solicitors.

What Should You Do When Buying a Property?

If you are buying a property where recent building works have taken place — a loft extension, rear addition, or chimney breast removal — there may have been a party wall process. To find out:

1. Check the seller's property information form (TA6). Sellers are asked to disclose any notices received from neighbours or any disputes relating to a party wall, boundary, or neighbour. Look for any "Yes" answers in the Party Wall section.
2. Ask your solicitor to raise specific enquiries. Your solicitor can ask the seller to provide copies of any party wall notices, awards, or schedules of condition.
3. Check planning records. If a planning application was made, the associated documents may hint at whether party wall notices were needed.
4. Ask your surveyor. A building survey will note any evidence of recent structural works and the surveyor can advise whether a party wall process would have been required.

What If There Are No Records?

This is a common situation, particularly with older works. If the building owner and neighbour agreed verbally or informally — or if a surveyor's records have been lost — there may simply be no documentation.

In practice, the absence of party wall records does not necessarily mean there is a problem. If the works are visually complete and sound, and the current neighbours are not disputing anything, the lack of documentation rarely causes practical difficulties.

However, if you are buying and want certainty, your solicitor can request that the seller provides a statutory declaration confirming what happened (or did not happen) under the Act.

Does a Party Wall Award Bind Future Owners?

This is a nuanced point. A party wall award creates obligations between the parties who were named in it — the building owner and adjoining owner at the time. It does not automatically bind future owners as a matter of property law.

However, if a dispute arises after a sale about works carried out under an award, the existence of the award and schedule of condition is highly relevant evidence. Future owners benefit from having this documentation available even if they were not technically party to it.

Must Sellers Disclose Party Wall Awards?

There is no legal obligation to register or disclose an award in the same way as, for example, a registered charge. However, the TA6 property information form does ask sellers to disclose party wall notices and disputes. Failing to disclose a known dispute or award that is material to the property could constitute misrepresentation.

Sellers should be transparent, and buyers should ask the right questions through their solicitor.

Keep Your Party Wall Records Safe

If you have carried out works that required a party wall notice — whether or not a formal award was produced — keep copies of:

• The original notice you served
• Proof of delivery
• Any consent letters or signed acknowledgements from neighbours
• Any formal award produced by surveyors
• The schedule of condition

These documents should be stored with your title deeds and provided to your solicitor when you sell. Start the process correctly with our notice generator to produce a professional document from the outset.