• Stuart Birrell FRICS — Co-founder, Murray Birrell
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Episode Notes
Stuart Birrell FRICS, co-founder of Murray Birrell and a Fellow of RICS with over 40 years of surveying experience, gives a frank and candid account of the party wall profession — including some uncomfortable truths about fees and qualifications.
Party Wall Fees
What constitutes a reasonable party wall fee and how to justify charges to clients and building owners
"Fees have not just to be correct in calculation; they have to feel right" — why excessive charges on modest domestic projects bring the Act into disrepute
Post-Farrs Lane: the ability to include building owner surveyor fees in awards where both parties agree they are reasonable
Market Pressures
Downward fee pressure as unqualified practitioners enter the market
"There's no restriction on who can be a party wall surveyor" — the regulatory gap that allows competitive undercutting
How experienced professionals can maintain premium positioning through service quality and demonstrable expertise
Professional Standards
Institutional membership as the baseline: professionals need a construction background, familiarity with current case law, and membership in bodies that provide governance oversight
"You shouldn't be encouraging disputes" — on the professional duty to keep party wall matters proportionate
The qualities that distinguish a truly professional party wall surveyor from someone simply practising the Act
