Neighbourly Matters - Party Wall, Rights to Light & Daylight Services
Neighbourly matters require careful management, technical expertise, and clear communication to prevent disputes and keep developments moving. Our specialist in-house experts in Rights to Light, Daylight & Sunlight, and Party Wall matters, Akt Surveying, provide complete support across all aspects of neighbourly relations and boundary law.
Akt Neighbourly Surveyors
Party Wall - Right to light.
Work with us
End-to-end expertise:
We manage Neighbourly Matters from feasibility through to completion, combining surveying precision with strategic advice to protect both developers and adjoining owners.
Collaborative and transparent:
Our approach emphasises early engagement and open communication, reducing risk, saving time, and maintaining positive relationships between all parties.
Fully accredited specialists:
Our team applies the latest RICS standards and technical methodologies to deliver compliant, defensible assessments and agreements.
Tailored support for every project:
From small residential extensions to complex commercial schemes and regeneration projects, our multidisciplinary team provide scalable, practical solutions for all property types across the UK and ROI.
“Impartial guidance and constructive outcomes. Neighbourly matters services that reduce conflict, clarify responsibilities and protect all parties’ interests.”
How we can help
Daylight, Sunlight & Overshadowing
Planning authorities require detailed assessment of natural light impacts in new developments. We provide swift, accurate analysis and reporting from feasibility through to planning submission.
Our services include:
- RICS Daylight & Sunlight Assessments (RICS Standards 2023, BRE 209 3rd Edition)
- Internal daylight and sunlight analysis
- Overshadowing and solar glare studies
- BREEAM and climate-based assessments
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) input
- Representation at planning meetings and inquiries
We recommend undertaking Rights to Light and Daylight/Sunlight assessments together where relevant, as planning consent does not automatically protect against common law light claims
Party Wall Matters
Party Wall procedures can be complex, but with experienced guidance they need not be difficult.
At Akt Surveying, we have over 60 years of combined experience and have successfully completed more than 2,000 Party Wall Awards from basements to high-rise developments.
Services include:
- Party Wall notices, awards, and dispute resolution
- Schedules of Condition for adjoining properties
- Advice for both developers and property managers
- Clear communication and weekly progress updates
- Cost-effective, transparent fee structures
We also provide standalone Schedules of Condition to safeguard assets and support Licence to Alter applications where necessary.
“Neighbourly matters are about balancing rights, responsibilities, and relationships. Our goal is to make the process clear, compliant, and fair, protecting property owners while helping projects progress without conflict.”
— Earl Kendrick Team
FAQs
Neighbourly matters cover the technical and legal issues that arise between adjoining owners when one undertakes construction, refurbishment, or development works. They typically include Party Wall matters, Rights to Light, Daylight and Sunlight assessments, Overshadowing analysis, and Boundary advice. These issues can have significant legal and financial implications if not managed correctly. Earl Kendrick, through our specialist division Akt Surveying, provides expert guidance to ensure projects proceed compliantly and with minimal disruption to neighbouring properties.
Akt Surveying is Earl Kendrick’s dedicated in-house specialist team focused exclusively on neighbourly matters. Their deep technical knowledge and legal understanding ensure every assessment and agreement is precise, compliant and strategically managed. Working as part of the wider Earl Kendrick Group, Akt Surveying combines specialist insight with multidisciplinary support, providing clients with seamless advice on complex rights, risks and negotiations — from initial feasibility studies through to dispute resolution and final sign-off.
Ideally, neighbourly assessments should be undertaken at the feasibility or pre-application stage of a project. Early engagement allows potential risks — such as loss of light, boundary encroachment, or party wall implications — to be identified and mitigated before designs are finalised. This proactive approach helps prevent costly redesigns, programme delays or legal disputes later in the process. Earl Kendrick and Akt Surveying ensure early, coordinated input that keeps developments compliant and conflict-free.
No. Planning consent and Rights to Light are entirely separate. While planning approval considers public planning policy, Rights to Light are governed by common law and protect individual property owners. Even with planning permission in place, a neighbour may still have grounds for a claim if new construction significantly reduces their natural light. Akt Surveying’s specialists assess potential risks early, using accurate modelling to support fair, defensible outcomes and avoid unnecessary disputes.
Starting work without a valid Party Wall agreement breaches the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and can result in injunctions, project delays and financial penalties. Earl Kendrick’s Akt Surveying team manages the process from start to finish — serving notices, appointing surveyors, preparing awards, and monitoring works to ensure compliance. Our structured, transparent approach safeguards relationships with neighbours, maintains legal protection for all parties, and ensures construction proceeds without avoidable interruption or dispute.
Contact our Director
Abbie ReidHead of Party Wall Surveying
e: abbie@akt-surveyors.com
Contact us
Questions about a building, project or survey? Get in touch and our team is ready to help with practical straight talking advice.
Neighbourly Matters
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Contact one of our experts today
Questions about a building, project or survey? Get in touch and our team is ready to help with practical straight talking advice