Party Walls

by | Apr 25, 2024 | ALTA Survey, Commercial, Common Ground

This month we continue with a commercial real estate blog series that covers each item in an ALTA survey checklist, otherwise known as TABLE A. We will look at the benefits of each point in detail. An ALTA survey is typically utilized for commercial and industrial properties only. The requirements to perform an ALTA allow for several additional features to be added to the typical boundary survey.

  1. As designated by the client, a determination of the relationship and location of certain division or party walls with respect to adjoining properties.

Party walls are the common walls separating units in both residential and commercial properties. If you think residential – think about a duplex; the wall that separates one structure from another is considered the party wall. If you think commercial – think about a shopping center strip that has multiple businesses under one building. In order to state that the surveyor has located the party walls, the surveyor has to have interior access to the building and has to measure the interior of all spaces to be able to show the party wall location. Requesting the party wall location can have a significant impact on the cost of the survey and can also take additional time depending upon the tenant’s ability to grant access to the surveyor. Party walls are frequently shown on architectural drawings, and while that information can be shown on the survey drawing, it would need to be clearly stated that the information was being provided by another source and not verified by the surveyor.

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