Short answer. Partly. You can renounce your share of a party wall when demolishing your building, but the law still holds you responsible for all repairs and work needed to prevent damage to the wall from the demolition itself. Renunciation does not let you walk away from the wall in whatever condition the demolition leaves it.
What the law says
the cost of all repairs and work necessary to prevent any damage which the demolition may cause to the party wall, on this occasion only, shall be borne by him.
Civil Code, Article 663 — Renouncing Part-Ownership of the Wall. Read the full provision →
Renunciation is allowed, but not a total escape
Article 663 of the Civil Code gives a building owner who wants to demolish his structure an exit from ongoing co-ownership of the party wall: he may renounce his part-ownership. Once he does, he steps out of the shared responsibility for future maintenance, upkeep, and repairs that co-owners would normally share. The wall becomes the neighbor's alone to maintain. But renunciation does not erase the liability created by the demolition itself.
The demolition-damage obligation
The statute is precise: the cost of all repairs and work necessary to prevent any damage which the demolition may cause to the party wall, on this occasion only, shall be borne by him. Before you can walk away, you must ensure that the demolition does not harm the wall that will remain standing for your neighbor. If the process of tearing down your building risks cracking, destabilizing, or exposing the party wall, you are responsible for the protective work and the repairs needed as a result — regardless of whether you have renounced your ownership.
What counts as necessary work
The scope of the obligation is limited to what is necessary to prevent damage from the demolition. It does not require you to improve the wall or pay for pre-existing problems unrelated to your demolition. If the wall already had cracks before you started demolition, those are a separate matter. The costs you bear are those directly caused by — or needed to guard against harm from — your demolition work. Having an engineer assess the wall condition before and after demolition will help isolate what is your responsibility.
Practical steps before demolishing
Before you begin any demolition, document the current state of the party wall carefully — photographs, a structural survey if the building is substantial. Agree with your neighbor on what condition the wall is in. Then plan the demolition in a way that minimizes stress on the shared wall, and budget for the protective measures your contractor says are needed. After demolition, inspect the wall again and address any damage attributable to the work. Getting these steps done properly protects you from a neighbor who later claims your demolition caused damage that was actually pre-existing.