Overview
An advising engineer can play a valuable role in party wall matters, but only when their role is properly limited. Overuse or misuse can create unnecessary cost and confusion.
The advising engineer supports the surveyors. They do not replace the project engineer, manage the site or enforce the award.
What is an advising engineer?
An advising engineer provides technical input to help the surveyors understand structural risk arising from the notifiable works.
They may review drawings, calculations and method statements, and then advise whether the proposals raise party wall concerns that need to be addressed in the award.
When is an advising engineer useful?
An advising engineer may be appropriate where:
- the structural proposals are complex or unusual;
- there is underpinning or deep excavation;
- the works involve significant temporary support;
- the surveyors need technical help to understand risk;
- assumptions in the design appear optimistic or unclear.
They are not needed on every residential project.
What should their advice cover?
Good advice should be:
- focused on the notifiable works;
- practical and proportionate;
- written clearly enough for surveyors and owners to understand;
- aimed at risk to the adjoining property, not redesigning the building owner's scheme.
What should they not do?
An advising engineer should not:
- monitor works on site unless specifically and properly instructed;
- enforce the award;
- act as project engineer;
- take over the contractor's responsibilities;
- become involved in surveyor fee disputes;
- expand their remit beyond what is necessary.
If concerns arise during construction, they should usually be raised with the project engineer, contractor, building control or the appropriate health and safety authority.
Fees and cost control
Where an advising engineer is genuinely needed, their fee may form part of the reasonable costs of administering the party wall procedure.
However, if a surveyor outsources technical review to an engineer, the surveyor's own fee should usually reflect that reduced workload.