Your schedule of condition checklist
Tick off every room and detail a proper party wall schedule of condition should record before building work starts next door. Print it and take it on site.
A schedule of condition is the single best protection a homeowner has against a party wall damage claim. Get it wrong or skip it, and a small crack can turn into a long argument. This checklist makes sure nothing is missed.
A schedule of condition is a dated written and photographic record of a neighbour’s property taken before party wall works begin. It captures existing cracks, damage and defects so there is clear evidence of the starting condition if a claim is made later. It is standard practice and is usually referenced in the party wall award.
Tick off every item
What it is and why it matters
A schedule of condition records the exact state of the adjoining owner’s property before your works begin. It pairs written notes with dated photographs of walls, ceilings, floors and any existing cracks or defects.
Here is why it matters so much. If your neighbour later claims your building work damaged their home, the schedule shows what was already there. Without that record, it is one person’s word against another, and disputes drag on. With it, most claims are settled quickly because the evidence is clear.
Standard practice, not a legal box tick. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 does not force a schedule of condition by name, but it is normal professional practice and is usually written into the party wall award. The notice periods around the works are unchanged in 2026: two months for party structure works, and one month for a line of junction or an excavation notice.
When it is done and who does it
The schedule is prepared before any work starts, after the notice stage, with access arranged to the neighbour’s property. It is normally carried out by the party wall surveyor, and the building owner usually pays for it as part of the process. The record often runs to dozens or hundreds of photographs, because the more detail captured up front, the stronger the protection later.
For the formal version, see our schedule of condition report service.
Why this checklist helps
Most sites describe a schedule of condition in a paragraph and move on. This turns it into a working tool you can actually use on site.
Room by room
Every area a thorough record should cover, so nothing is forgotten on the day.
Evidence focused
Prompts for dated photos and existing cracks, the details that win or lose a claim.
Print and carry
Print it and tick items off on site. Your progress is saved on this device too.
Or hand it to us
Prefer it done properly? One tap sends the job to us to prepare and attend.
Three situations London homeowners face
These are representative situations, not named clients, but they show why the record earns its place.
The crack that was already there
After a rear extension, a neighbour reported a hairline crack in their hallway and blamed the works. The pre works schedule of condition showed a photograph of that exact crack, dated before any digging. The matter closed quickly. The lesson: a dated photo is worth more than any argument once a claim is made.
The job that skipped the schedule
An owner skipped the schedule to save a little money. When a neighbour later claimed damage, there was no evidence of the starting condition, so the dispute dragged on far longer and cost more than the schedule ever would have. The lesson: the schedule is the cheapest insurance in the whole process.
The deep dig that needed detail
A basement next to a period terrace meant higher risk, so the schedule was especially thorough, with photographs of every wall and ceiling in the adjoining rooms. When fine cracking appeared, the before and after comparison settled responsibility cleanly. The lesson: the riskier the dig, the more detail the record needs.
Want it done properly?
We prepare full photographic schedules of condition across London, with access arranged and the award referenced.
Message us on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
A dated written and photographic record of a neighbour’s property taken before party wall works begin. It captures existing cracks, damage and defects so there is clear evidence of the starting condition if a claim is made later.
It is not strictly required by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, but it is standard professional practice and is usually referenced in the party wall award. Without one, defending or settling a damage claim becomes far harder for both sides.
It is normally prepared by the party wall surveyor before works start, with access to the adjoining owner’s property. The building owner usually pays for it as part of the party wall process.
Before any work begins. The record must show the property’s condition before the building works could have caused any change, so it is carried out after the notice stage and before the builders arrive.
Important: This checklist is a guide only and does not replace a professional schedule of condition prepared with access to the adjoining property. A thorough, dated record carried out by a party wall surveyor carries far more weight in a damage dispute. Survey of Party Wall prepares full schedules of condition across London.