Party wall
A shared wall on the property line between two owners, common in townhouses and city duplexes. Maintenance and repair rules are usually set in a party wall agreement.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
A townhouse or a city duplex shares a wall with the neighbor, and a party wall agreement says who maintains it and how. A buyer's lender may ask for the agreement, and a missing one is a title exception.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
Your townhouse shares its east wall with the neighbor. The recorded party wall agreement covers repairs, and the buyer's lender wants a copy.
| What exists | What follows |
|---|---|
| A recorded party wall agreement | A copy for the buyer; nothing more |
| No agreement on record | The title policy carries an exception, and some lenders want one drafted |
| A dispute with the neighbor about the wall | A material fact to disclose |
A shared wall is a shared duty, and the agreement is where it is written.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the wall belongs to whoever built first. A party wall is usually owned to the centerline by each side, with duties to both.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
One piece of your sale. Here is where all the pieces live.
In your room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Keighbor keeps your whole home sale in one place and defines every term like this one right where you meet it, in the step you're on. Free to set up, with or without an agent.