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.
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Where this comes up: getting ready
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
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