RICS Party Wall Guidance 7th Edition — Interview with Michael Cooper

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Episode Notes

Michael Cooper, Head of Neighbourly Matters at Colliers International and chairman of the RICS Working Group on Party Wall Legislation, discusses the 7th edition of the RICS Party Wall Guidance — the product of 15 months of work and 15 meetings involving chartered surveyors, barristers, university members, and younger practitioners. The guidance took effect on 1 December 2019.

Making Good vs. Compensation

A significant revision: "making good" is only available under specific sections (2(2) a, e, f, g, h, and j)
Other sections require compensation under Section 11(8) rather than making good — a distinction the 6th edition failed to make clearly

Ethics and Professional Standards

Greater emphasis on RICS rules of conduct: integrity, due diligence, and customer service expectations for chartered surveyors
Why the 7th edition treats professional conduct as central to party wall practice, not incidental to it

Revised Draft Award

The new award format separates matters surveyors can determine from those requiring consent
This separation improves legal clarity and makes awards more robust

Electronic Communications

New sections address digital delivery of documents and notices
Cooper's recommendation: obtain signed acknowledgement receipts to establish receipt dates — particularly important given the statutory significance of timing

Terms of Business and Schedules of Condition

Surveyors should provide clear terms of business explaining fee structures and when adjoining owners may incur costs
Schedules of condition are treated as essential practice rather than optional — with the guidance emphasising inspection over prescribing specific documentation formats

Implementation Advice

Cooper advises surveyors to review the entire document thoroughly, including the appendix templates
Documents should be adapted to specific circumstances — not copied verbatim from the guidance

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