A lot of people do not realise it, but the party wall (that's the wall you share with your neighbour) should be completely intact with no gaps right up to the roof tiles.
This is vital to ensure that if a fire breaks out in one property it will not spread to the next via the roof. This helps to ensure fires are contained, fewer people are at risk and damage from fires is limited.
On a pre-purchase survey, once the surveyor is able to access the attic and view the party wall, they will take note if there are any visible gaps. If there are, they'll mention this on the report and recommend fireproofing takes place.
On occasion, if your mortgage provider request to see a pre-purchase survey, they may decline to release the funds until fireproofing has taken place. This is more common with local authorities who provide the Local Authority Home Loans.
Although older properties may be exempt from this building regulation, if you do choose to buy a property with inadequate fireproofing on the party wall, it is highly recommended that you complete this work before moving in.
At GetHouseSurvey.ie all of our surveyors are qualified, experienced (minimum of 10 years) and carry their own insurance, so when you book with us, you are in safe hands! To book your pre-purchase survey, just go to GetHouseSurvey.ie and click "Get Survey Now". If you have any questions just drop us an email at info@gethousesurvey.ie and we'll do everything we can to help!