Hello and thanks for using Just Answer.
I am Al and am happy to assist you with your enquiry.
The legislation covering this proposed works is covered under the Party Wall Act 1996.
This Act has been specifically designed to protect people, like yourself, whereby a neighbour is planning excavation work/extensions near to the boundary.
If you consent to these works, without taking it further, you are leaving yourself open.
It would be normal (and I am sure your neighbours have been advised accordingly) for you NOT to consent to the proposed works without first taking advice from a Surveyor.
Unless you sign the consent form, the following process occurs:
- A Surveyor or Surveyors is/are appointed to determine a fair and impartial Award, either:
- An 'Agreed Surveyor' (someone acceptable to all parties).
or - Each party appoints their own Surveyor to represent the individual parties.
The good news is that the party undertaking the work has to pay all of the fees, with the exception being where the owner of the adjoining property (yourself) calls on the Surveyor unnecessarily. - the appointed Surveyor will make sure that your property and interests are protected.
- The Agreed Surveyor, or the individual Surveyors jointly, will produce an Award (a schedule of works to be carried out) which must be fair and impartial
I would therefore recommend that you follow this above process, and don't feel that you should just sign the consent form.
I hope this helps and answers your question.
Kind Regards
Al