The short answer
An advising engineer can be valuable in party wall matters, but only when their role is properly limited. They support the surveyors — they do not replace the project engineer, manage the site or enforce the award.
Why it matters
An advising engineer gives technical input to help surveyors understand structural risk from the notifiable works, reviewing drawings, calculations and method statements and advising whether the proposals raise party wall concerns for the award. They are most useful where the structural proposals are complex or unusual, there is underpinning or deep excavation, the works involve significant temporary support, the surveyors need help to understand risk, or design assumptions look optimistic — not on every residential project. Good advice is focused on the notifiable works, practical, clearly written and aimed at risk to the adjoining property, not redesigning the scheme. They should not monitor works on site unless specifically instructed, enforce the award, act as project engineer, take over the contractor’s responsibilities, get into fee disputes, or expand their remit; mid-construction concerns usually go to the project engineer, contractor, building control or the health and safety authority. Where genuinely needed, their fee may form part of the reasonable costs, but the surveyor’s own fee should reflect the reduced workload.
What to do now
- Use an advising engineer only where the works genuinely justify it.
- Keep their advice focused on notifiable works and risk to the adjoining property.
- Route construction-stage concerns to the project engineer or contractor, not the advising engineer.
- Check fees are not duplicated between surveyor and engineer.
Common mistakes
- Instructing an advising engineer on routine residential works.
- Letting them monitor the site or act as project engineer without a proper instruction.
- Paying both a full surveyor fee and a full engineer fee for one review.
When to call Coburns
If an advising engineer has been proposed for your matter, send us the scope and we will confirm whether it is necessary and properly limited.