The short answer
If notified works are postponed or abandoned, reasonable fees for work properly carried out still need to be dealt with — but abandonment is not a blank cheque, and an early cancellation should usually mean only a modest fee.
Why it matters
Serving a notice triggers a statutory process, and once surveyors are appointed they may begin work before it is clear the project will proceed. They are entitled to be paid for work that was proper and reasonable — reviewing notices, considering drawings, advising on process, corresponding reasonably — but where a project is cancelled early the fee should reflect the limited work actually done, not a full award fee where no award was needed. Problems usually arise when a building owner cancels but refuses to pay reasonable fees already incurred; refusing to deal with a modest fee can create a much larger bill.
What to do now
- Tell the adjoining owner’s surveyor promptly that the works are abandoned or postponed.
- Confirm the position in writing.
- Request a brief breakdown of time incurred.
- Pay reasonable costs without unnecessary argument.
Common mistakes
- Treating a served notice as a casual step with no consequences.
- Refusing to pay a modest, reasonable fee and triggering a larger dispute.
- Accepting a full award-level fee where little work was actually done.
When to call Coburns
If your project is on hold and a fee is in dispute, send us the details and we will help settle it proportionately.