Yes, you can demolish a semi-detached house, but the process is much more complicated. Because your home shares a wall with the neighbouring property, you must follow all the regulations, obtain the necessary permissions and take proper precautions to protect the building next door before any work can begin.
There are many reasons why you might choose to demolish a house; it could be structurally unsafe or the layout might be completely outdated and in need of a total overhaul. While demolition is never an easy process, it can be complicated even further when the structure you’re trying to knock down is semi-detached, as you’re not just considering your own property’s stability and structural integrity, but that of your neighbours too.
So how do you go about demolishing a semi-detached house? The team at Hill Demolition is here to explain the process.
Is it legal to demolish a semi-detached house?
Yes, it is legal to demolish a semi-detached house, but you must ensure that the proper procedures are followed. Any shared wall is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, which is a piece of legislation that outlines how building works that involve a shared wall or boundary should be carried out.
Under these rules, if you’re planning any work to a shared wall, such as the demolition of a semi-detached house, then you must formally notify the owner of the adjoining property in writing at least one month before the work begins. They then have 14 days to respond; if they consent, then the work can go ahead straight away, but if they fail to respond or they raise an objection, you’re deemed to be in a dispute.
When a dispute happens over a shared wall, you must appoint a surveyor to help settle the matter. It’s their job to draft a Party Wall Award, which sets out conditions for how and when the work is carried out. If you fail to comply with the Party Wall Act then you may find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit, so for the sake of your finances (and your sanity!), make sure you work with a trusted demolition contractor who knows and follows the rules.
How to demolish a semi-detached house
Demolishing a semi-detached house requires extensive planning, and you’ll need to engage the services of a structural engineer to survey the whole property, especially the shared boundaries, and identify where the load-bearing walls are.
You’ll also need to find a reliable demolition expert, like Hill Demolition, to carry out the work for you; make sure to look for a company with plenty of experience and a trusted local reputation.
You’ll need to carry out an asbestos survey so that any asbestos-containing materials can be safely identified, removed and disposed of.
A utility mapping survey is needed to avoid inadvertently cutting off your neighbour’s supply or blocking their drainage access.
Speak to your local council and find out what permits you’ll need to obtain. You’ll definitely need a Section 80 Demolition Notice, but depending on the location and scale of the job, you might also need a scaffolding licence, a road occupation permit or other permissions.
Your site must be secured with hoardings, lockable gates and clear signage, while also ensuring your neighbour has full access to their property.
The shared wall is the most delicate part of this process, so this will need to be isolated and stabilised using temporary supports throughout the demolition.
A soft strip demolition should then be carried out; this is when all the non-structural elements, like the various fixtures and fittings, are removed to allow for a more controlled demolition.
Now, all the building’s structural elements can be carefully removed, paying close attention to ensure vibrations, dust and noise are kept to a minimum to avoid disturbing your neighbour as much as possible.
Lastly, all the debris can be cleared and removed, and a post-demolition inspection can take place to ensure the neighbouring property is safe and stable.