The short answer
A party wall surveyor’s timesheet should be a clear, accurate, contemporaneous record of work actually done, not a vague list created after the event. Good timesheets protect the surveyor, assist the owners and help avoid fee disputes.
Why it matters
If fees are challenged, the timesheet may be the main evidence, so it must stand up to scrutiny by another surveyor or the third surveyor. Each entry should record the date, matter reference, task description, time spent, hourly rate where relevant, whether it is billable, and any disbursement. Time should be recorded promptly — reconstructing it at the end leads to rounded, exaggerated or unclear entries. Task descriptions should explain what was done and why, such as “reviewed structural drawings for proposed beam bearing into party wall”, not just “emails” or “file review”. Grouping time under headings (notice review, technical review, correspondence, site visits, schedule of condition, award drafting, damage or fee work, travel) shows whether the time is proportionate, and non-Act work such as planning objections, general complaints, contractual issues or non-notifiable works should not be slipped into a party wall invoice.
What to do now
- Use a consistent format with all the key fields, and record time daily.
- Describe each task and why it was necessary.
- Group time by category and keep disbursements separate and supported.
- Keep non-Act work out of the party wall fee claim.
Common mistakes
- Reconstructing time after the event.
- Vague entries like “review” with no output.
- Hiding expenses inside general time entries, or billing non-Act work.
When to call Coburns
If you are challenging or defending a fee claim, send us the timesheet and we will tell you whether it stands up.