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Section 91 – Settlement of differences between building and adjoining owners

London Building Act 1894

(1) In all cases (not specifically provided for by this Act) where a difference arises between a building owner and an adjoining owner in respect of any matter arising with reference to any work to which any notice given under this part of this Act relates unless both parties concur in the appointment of one surveyor they shall each appoint a surveyor and the two surveyors so appointed shall select a third surveyor and such one surveyor or three surveyors or any two of them shall settle any matter from time to time during the continuance of any work to which the notice relates in dispute between such building and adjoining owner with power by his or their award to determine the right to do and the time and manner of doing any work and generally any other matter arising out of or incidental to such difference but any time so appointed for doing any work shall not unless otherwise agreed commence until after the expiration of the period by this part of the Act prescribed for the notice in the particular case.

(2) Any award given by such one surveyor or by such three surveyors or by any two of them shall be conclusive and shall not be questioned in any court with this exception that either of the parties to the difference may appeal therefrom to the county court within fourteen days from the date of the delivery of the award and the county court may subject as hereafter in this section mentioned rescind the award or modify it in such manner as it thinks fit.

(3) If either party to the difference make default in appointing a surveyor for ten days after notice has been served on him by the other party to make such appointment the party giving the notice may make the appointment in the place of the party so making default.

(4) The costs incurred in making or obtaining the award shall be paid by such party as the surveyor or surveyors determine.

(5) If the appellant from any such award, on appearing before the county court declare his unwillingness to have the matter decided by that court and prove to the satisfaction of the judge of that court that in the event of the matter being decided against him he will be liable to pay a sum exclusive of costs exceeding fifty pounds and gives security to be approved by the judge duly to prosecute his appeal and to abide the event thereof all proceedings in the county court shall thereupon be stayed and the appellant may bring an action in the High Court against the other party to the difference.

(6) The plaintiff in such action shall deliver to the defendants an issue whereby the matters in difference between them may be tried and the form of such issue in case of dispute or in the case of non appearance of the defendant shall be settled by the High Court and such action shall be prosecuted and issue tried in the same manner and subject to the same incidents in and subject to which actions are prosecuted and issues tried in other cases within the jurisdiction of the High Court or as near thereto as circumstances admit.

(7) If the parties to any such action agree as to the facts a special case may be stated for the opinion of the High Court and any case so stated may be brought before the Court in like manner and subject to the same incidents in and subject to which other special cases are brought before such Court or as near thereto as circumstances admit and any costs that may have been incurred in the County Court by the parties to such action as is mentioned in this section shall be deemed to be costs incurred in such action, and be payable accordingly.

(8) Where both parties to the difference have concurred in the appointment of one surveyor for the settlement of such difference then if such surveyor refuse or for seven days neglect to act or die or become incapable to act before he has made his award the matters in dispute shall be determined in the same manner as if such single surveyor had not been appointed.

(9) Where each party to the difference has appointed a surveyor for the settlement of the difference and a third surveyor has been selected then if such third surveyor refuse or for seven days neglect to act or before such difference is settled die or become incapable to act the two surveyors shall forthwith select another third surveyor in his place and every third surveyor so selected as last aforesaid shall have the same powers and authorities as were vested in his predecessor.

(10) Where each party to the difference has appointed a surveyor for the settlement of the difference then if the two surveyors so appointed refuse or for seven days after request of either party neglect to select a third surveyor or another third surveyor in the event of the refusal or neglect to act death or incapacity of the third surveyor for the time being a secretary of state may on the application of either party select some fit person to act as third surveyor and every surveyor so selected shall have the same powers and authorities as if he had been selected by the two surveyors appointed by the parties.

(11) Where each party to the difference has appointed a surveyor for the settlement of the difference then if before such difference is settled either surveyor so appointed die or become incapable to act the party by whom such surveyor was appointed may appoint in writing some other surveyor to act in his place and if for the space of seven days after notice served on him by the other party for that purpose he fail to do so the other surveyor may proceed ex parte and the decision of such other surveyor shall be as effectual as if he had been a single surveyor in whose appointment both parties had concurred and every surveyor so to be substituted as aforesaid shall have the same powers and authorities as were vested in the former surveyor at the time of his death or disability as aforesaid.

(12) Where each party to the difference has appointed a surveyor for the settlement of the difference then if either of the surveyors refuse or for seven days neglect to act the other surveyor may proceed ex parte and the decision of such other surveyor shall be as effectual as if he had been a single surveyor in whose appointment both parties had concurred.

The London Building Act 1894