What Is a Party Wall Monitoring Survey?
A party wall monitoring survey (formally structural movement monitoring for party wall works) tracks whether nearby construction is causing your building to move, settle, or crack. It is separate from the statutory Party Wall Award process but often required by your party wall surveyor or structural engineer for high-risk works like basement excavations, underpinning, or deep foundations.
Reflective targets and prisms are installed on walls. A surveyor uses a total station to measure coordinates to 1–2mm accuracy and compares readings to the baseline over time.
Typical Costs (Ealing/London 2025)
| Service | Cost (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | Monitoring visit (manual, per attendance) | From £295 per visit | | Schedule of Condition (pre-work baseline) | From £350 | | Party Wall Award (Agreed Surveyor) | From £699 | | Party Wall Notice service | From £50 (up to 3 neighbours) | | Real-time 24/7 automated monitoring | Bespoke quote |
Total party wall process (not including ongoing monitoring): typically £1,100–£1,400+ for a loft conversion with 1–2 neighbours.
Deliverables
- Setup Report — Baseline coordinates, target photos, trigger levels (amber/red thresholds)
- Ongoing Reports — Within 24hr of each visit: tabulated readings (X/Y/Z), movement trend graphs, commentary
- Trigger Alerts — Immediate notification if movement exceeds agreed thresholds (amber: 5–10mm warning; red: 10mm+ stop work)
- Final Report — Post-construction summary plus target removal
Ealing Coverage
We provide party wall monitoring surveys throughout the London Borough of Ealing including:
- Ealing, Acton, Hanwell, South Acton
- West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, Brentham
- Northfields, Pitshanger, Greenford, Southall
- Park Royal and all surrounding W5/W3/W13 postcode areas
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do I need party wall monitoring in Ealing?
You need party wall monitoring when carrying out high-risk works near neighbouring properties — particularly basement excavation, deep foundations, underpinning, or piling. It is typically specified in the Party Wall Award.
Q: What is the difference between monitoring and a Schedule of Condition?
A Schedule of Condition is a pre-works photographic and written record of the neighbouring property's current state. Monitoring is ongoing measurement during construction to detect movement. Both may be required for a basement project.
Q: How often are monitoring visits?
Frequency depends on project phase and risk profile. Typical schedules include daily visits during active excavation, weekly during construction, and monthly during post-construction monitoring.