Anyone know about party walls?

[Rod2808]

Hello,

Hoping someone can help with a party wall question. Essentially is it a party wall if the neighbors building is below where the beam meets the wall.

Were looking to remove a fireplace and knock through two rooms and need a beam as shown in red on the picture. Where the beam for the fireplace meets the exterior wall at the bottom of the plan is directly above a flat roofed extension from next door, the blue shaded area. It's an odd property boundary.
The photo is to try and show where it would be relative to next doors building.
Is this a party wall if the neighbors house is under it?
Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jeds]

It depends where the boundary is? If your house existed before the neighbours (i.e. theirs was stuck up against yours) then the boundary runs up your outside face of your house wall and the area above their roof is yours and not party. If the houses were built at the same time, sharing a wall. then the whole of the wall could be party?

 

[johnny2007]

How are they going to know what you're doing in your property?

 

[Rod2808]

Ha yes there is that. I don't have a great understanding of party walls. Isnt the issue if they object later on or when you come to sell there can be issues?

 

[Rod2808]

It depends where the boundary is? If your house existed before the neighbours (i.e. theirs was stuck up against yours) then the boundary runs up your outside face of your house wall and the area above their roof is yours and not party. If the houses were built at the same time, sharing a wall. then the whole of the wall could be party?

Thanks. That's very helpful. My house was there first so hopefully not an issue.

 

[Koolpc]

Party wall surveyor is handy to get involved if you need rock solid advice etc..