Security for Expenses Glossary

The 'adjoining owner' is the person who owns the property that is not intending to carry out building works.

The 'building owner' is the person who owns the property that is intending to carry out building works.

The Party Wall Act extends the notion of an 'owner' a little further than everyday language.

A party wall is a wall shared between two properties - often encountered in semi-detached and terraced houses.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is often simply referred to as the "Party Wall Act".

A Party Wall Award is designed to resolve matters in a party wall dispute in a fair and practical way.

Party Wall Escrow is another name for Security for Expenses - they are used interchangeably and both describe the same thing.

Security to be deposited with an independent third party under s12(1) of the Party Wall Etc. Act 1996.

In the Party Wall Act, a 'surveyor' means anyone who is appointed under the act to settle party wall disputes.

The third surveyor is either an agreed surveyor or one appointed by the other two, who can decide disputes that arise in Party Wall matters.