PRACTICE DIRECTION 56 – LANDLORD AND TENANT CLAIMS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ABOUT LAND
This Practice Direction supplements Part 56
SECTION I – LANDLORD AND TENANT CLAIMS
56.2 – STARTING THE CLAIM
2.1 Subject to paragraph 2.1A, the claimant in a landlord and tenant claim must use the Part 8 procedure as modified by Part 56 and this practice direction.
2.1A Where the landlord and tenant claim is a claim for –
(1) a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act in circumstances where the grant of a new tenancy is opposed; or
(2) the termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act,
the claimant must use the Part 7 procedure as modified by Part 56 and this practice direction.
2.2
(1) Except where the county court does not have jurisdiction , landlord and tenant claims should normally be brought in the county court. Only exceptional circumstances justify starting a claim in the High Court.
(2) In the County Court, the claim will be issued by the County Court hearing centre where the claim is made and will then be sent to the County Court hearing centre which serves the address where the land is situated. A claimant should consider the potential delay which may result if a claim is not sent to the appropriate County Court hearing centre in the first instance.
2.3 If a claimant starts a claim in the High Court and the court decides that it should have been started in the county court, the court will normally either strike the claim out or transfer it to the county court on its own initiative. This is likely to result in delay and the court will normally disallow the costs of starting the claim in the High Court and of any transfer.
2.4 Circumstances which may, in an appropriate case, justify starting a claim in the High Court are if –
(1) there are complicated disputes of fact; or
(2) there are points of law of general importance.
2.5 The value of the property and the amount of any financial claim may be relevant circumstances, but these factors alone will not normally justify starting the claim in the High Court.
2.6 A landlord and tenant claim started in the High Court must be brought in the Chancery Division.
(Where the tenant is a tied pub tenant of a pub-owning business under the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act 2015, the procedure provided by paragraphs 3.1 to 3.19 of this practice direction is modified by paragraphs 3.20 to 3.32.)
Claims for a new tenancy under section 24 and termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act
3.1 This paragraph applies to a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 and termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act where rule 56.3 applies and in this paragraph –
(1) ‘an unopposed claim’ means a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act in circumstances where the grant of a new tenancy is not opposed;
(2) ‘an opposed claim’ means a claim for –
(a) a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act in circumstances where the grant of a new tenancy is opposed; or
(b) the termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act; and
(3) ‘grounds of opposition’ means –
(a) the grounds specified in section 30(1) of the 1954 Act on which a landlord may oppose an application for a new tenancy under section 24(1) of the 1954 Act or make an application under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act; or
(b) any other basis on which the landlord asserts that a new tenancy ought not to be granted.
Precedence of claim forms where there is more than one application to the court under section 24(1) or section 29(2) of the 1954 Act
3.2 Where more than one application to the court under section 24(1) or section 29(2) of the 1954 Act is made, the following provisions shall apply –
(1) once an application to the court under section 24(1) of the 1954 Act has been served on a defendant, no further application to the court in respect of the same tenancy whether under section 24(1) or section 29(2) of the 1954 Act may be served by that defendant without the permission of the court;
(2) if more than one application to the court under section 24(1) of the 1954 Act in respect of the same tenancy is served on the same day, any landlord’s application shall stand stayed until further order of the court;
(3) if applications to the court under both section 24(1) and section 29(2) of the 1954 Act in respect of the same tenancy are served on the same day, any tenant’s application shall stand stayed until further order of the court; and
(4) if a defendant is served with an application under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act (‘the section 29(2) application’) which was issued at a time when an application to the court had already been made by that defendant in respect of the same tenancy under section 24(1) of the 1954 Act (‘the section 24(1) application’), the service of the section 29(2) application shall be deemed to be a notice under rule 7.7 requiring service or discontinuance of the section 24(1) application within a period of 14 days after the service of the section 29(2) application.
Defendant where the claimant is the tenant making a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act
3.3 Where a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act is made by a tenant, the person who, in relation to the claimant's current tenancy, is the landlord as defined in section 44 of the 1954 Act must be a defendant.
Contents of the claim form in all cases
3.4 The claim form must contain details of –
(1) the property to which the claim relates;
(2) the particulars of the current tenancy (including date, parties and duration), the current rent (if not the original rent) and the date and method of termination;
(3) every notice or request given or made under sections 25 or 26 of the 1954 Act; and
Claim form where the claimant is the tenant making a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act
3.5 Where the claimant is the tenant making a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act, in addition to the details specified in paragraph 3.4, the claim form must contain details of –
(1) the nature of the business carried on at the property;
(2) whether the claimant relies on section 23(1A), 41 or 42 of the 1954 Act and, if so, the basis on which he does so;
(3) whether the claimant relies on section 31A of the 1954 Act and, if so, the basis on which he does so;
(4) whether any, and if so what part, of the property comprised in the tenancy is occupied neither by the claimant nor by a person employed by the claimant for the purpose of the claimant’s business;
(5) the claimant’s proposed terms of the new tenancy; and
(6) the name and address of –
(a) anyone known to the claimant who has an interest in the reversion in the property (whether immediate or in not more than 15 years) on the termination of the claimant's current tenancy and who is likely to be affected by the grant of a new tenancy; or
(b) if the claimant does not know of anyone specified by sub-paragraph (6)(a), anyone who has a freehold interest in the property.
3.6 The claim form must be served on the persons referred to in paragraph 3.5(6)(a) or (b) as appropriate.
Claim form where the claimant is the landlord making a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act
3.7 Where the claimant is the landlord making a claim for a new tenancy under section 24 of the 1954 Act, in addition to the details specified in paragraph 3.4, the claim form must contain details of –
(1) the claimant’s proposed terms of the new tenancy;
(2) whether the claimant is aware that the defendant’s tenancy is one to which section 32(2) of the 1954 Act applies and, if so, whether the claimant requires that any new tenancy shall be a tenancy of the whole of the property comprised in the defendant’s current tenancy or just of the holding as defined by section 23(3) of the 1954 Act; and
(3) the name and address of –
(a) anyone known to the claimant who has an interest in the reversion in the property (whether immediate or in not more than 15 years) on the termination of the claimant’s current tenancy and who is likely to be affected by the grant of a new tenancy; or
(b) if the claimant does not know of anyone specified by sub-paragraph (3)(a), anyone who has a freehold interest in the property.
3.8 The claim form must be served on the persons referred to in paragraph 3.7(3)(a) or (b) as appropriate.
Claim form where the claimant is the landlord making an application for the termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act
3.9 Where the claimant is the landlord making an application for the termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act, in addition to the details specified in paragraph 3.4, the claim form must contain –
(1) the claimant’s grounds of opposition;
(2) full details of those grounds of opposition; and
(3) the terms of a new tenancy that the claimant proposes in the event that his claim fails.
Acknowledgment of service where the claim is an unopposed claim and where the claimant is the tenant
3.10 Where the claim is an unopposed claim and the claimant is the tenant, the acknowledgment of service is to be in form N210 and must state with particulars –
(1) whether, if a new tenancy is granted, the defendant objects to any of the terms proposed by the claimant and if so –
(a) the terms to which he objects; and
(a) the terms that he proposes in so far as they differ from those proposed by the claimant;
(2) whether the defendant is a tenant under a lease having less than 15 years unexpired at the date of the termination of the claimant's current tenancy and, if so, the name and address of any person who, to the knowledge of the defendant, has an interest in the reversion in the property expectant (whether immediate or in not more than 15 years from that date) on the termination of the defendant's tenancy;
(3) the name and address of any person having an interest in the property who is likely to be affected by the grant of a new tenancy; and
(4) if the claimant’s current tenancy is one to which section 32(2) of the 1954 Act applies, whether the defendant requires that any new tenancy shall be a tenancy of the whole of the property comprised in the claimant's current tenancy.
Acknowledgment of service where the claim is an unopposed claim and the claimant is the landlord
3.11 Where the claim is an unopposed claim and the claimant is the landlord, the acknowledgment of service is to be in form N210 and must state with particulars –
(1) the nature of the business carried on at the property;
(2) if the defendant relies on section 23(1A), 41 or 42 of the 1954 Act, the basis on which he does so;
(3) whether any, and if so what part, of the property comprised in the tenancy is occupied neither by the defendant nor by a person employed by the defendant for the purpose of the defendant's business;
(4) the name and address of –
(a) anyone known to the defendant who has an interest in the reversion in the property (whether immediate or in not more than 15 years) on the termination of the defendant's current tenancy and who is likely to be affected by the grant of a new tenancy; or
(b) if the defendant does not know of anyone specified by sub-paragraph (4)(a), anyone who has a freehold interest in the property; and
Acknowledgment of service and defence where the claim is an opposed claim and where the claimant is the tenant
3.12 Where the claim is an opposed claim and the claimant is the tenant –
(1) the acknowledgment of service is to be in form N9; and
(2) in his defence the defendant must state with particulars –
(a) the defendant’s grounds of opposition;
(b) full details of those grounds of opposition;
(c) whether, if a new tenancy is granted, the defendant objects to any of the terms proposed by the claimant and if so –
(i) the terms to which he objects; and
(ii) the terms that he proposes in so far as they differ from those proposed by the claimant;
(d) whether the defendant is a tenant under a lease having less than 15 years unexpired at the date of the termination of the claimant’s current tenancy and, if so, the name and address of any person who, to the knowledge of the defendant, has an interest in the reversion in the property expectant (whether immediately or in not more than 15 years from that date) on the termination of the defendant's tenancy;
(e) the name and address of any person having an interest in the property who is likely to be affected by the grant of a new tenancy; and
(f) if the claimant’s current tenancy is one to which section 32(2) of the 1954 Act applies, whether the defendant requires that any new tenancy shall be a tenancy of the whole of the property comprised in the claimant's current tenancy.
Acknowledgment of service and defence where the claimant is the landlord making an application for the termination of a tenancy under section 29(2) of the 1954 Act
3.13 Where the claim is an opposed claim and the claimant is the landlord –
(1) the acknowledgment of service is to be in form N9; and
(2) in his defence the defendant must state with particulars –
(a) whether the defendant relies on section 23(1A), 41 or 42 of the 1954 Act and, if so, the basis on which he does so;
(b) whether the defendant relies on section 31A of the 1954 Act and, if so, the basis on which he does so; and
(c) the terms of the new tenancy that the defendant would propose in the event that the claimant’s claim to terminate the current tenancy fails.
Evidence in an unopposed claim
3.14 Where the claim is an unopposed claim, no evidence need be filed unless and until the court directs it to be filed.
Evidence in an opposed claim
3.15 Where the claim is an opposed claim, evidence (including expert evidence) must be filed by the parties as the court directs and the landlord shall be required to file his evidence first.
Grounds of opposition to be tried as a preliminary issue
3.16 Unless in the circumstances of the case it is unreasonable to do so, any grounds of opposition shall be tried as a preliminary issue.
Applications for interim rent under section 24A to 24D of the 1954 Act
3.17 Where proceedings have already been commenced for the grant of a new tenancy or the termination of an existing tenancy, the claim for interim rent under section 24A of the 1954 Act shall be made in those proceedings by –
(1) the claim form;
(2) the acknowledgment of service or defence; or
(3) an application on notice under Part 23.
3.18 Any application under section 24D(3) of the 1954 Act shall be made by an application on notice under Part 23 in the original proceedings.
3.19 Where no other proceedings have been commenced for the grant of a new tenancy or termination of an existing tenancy or where such proceedings have been disposed of, an application for interim rent under section 24A of the 1954 Act shall be made under the procedure in Part 8 and the claim form shall include details of –
(1) the property to which the claim relates;
(2) the particulars of the relevant tenancy (including date, parties and duration) and the current rent (if not the original rent);
(3) every notice or request given or made under sections 25 or 26 of the 1954 Act;
(4) if the relevant tenancy has terminated, the date and mode of termination; and
(5) if the relevant tenancy has been terminated and the landlord has granted a new tenancy of the property to the tenant –
(a) particulars of the new tenancy (including date, parties and duration) and the rent; and
(b) in a case where section 24C(2) of the 1954 Act applies but the claimant seeks a different rent under section 24C(3) of that Act, particulars and matters on which the claimant relies as satisfying section 24C(3).
Pubs Code tenants
3.20 In the following paragraphs –
(1) ‘end of the MRO procedure’ means the day calculated in accordance with regulation 39(4) of the Pubs Code;
(2) ‘MRO’ means market rent only option as provided by section 43 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015;
(3) ‘MRO notice’ has the meaning given in regulation 23(1) of the Pubs Code;
(4) ‘MRO tenancy’ is a tenancy to occupy premises on MRO terms and provided in compliance with the Pubs Code;
(5) ‘pub-owning business’ has the meaning given in section 69(1) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015;
(6) ‘Pubs Code’, means the Pubs Code Etc. Regulations 2016;
(7) ‘Pubs Code Adjudicator’ is the corporation sole body established by section 41 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015;
(8) ‘Pubs Code tenant’ means a tied pub tenant whose immediate landlord is a pub-owning business; and
(9) ‘tied pub tenant” has the meaning given in section 70(1) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.
3.21 Where the tenant is a Pubs Code tenant, paragraphs 1.1 – 3.19 apply, subject to the following modifications.
Contents of the claim form where a party is a Pubs Code tenant
3.22 In addition to the details listed at paragraph 3.4, the claim form must state that the tenant is a Pubs Code tenant.
3.23 The claim form must state whether the tenant –
(1) has given an MRO notice in accordance with the Pubs Code;
(2) has requested a rent proposal in accordance with Regulation 15(1)-(5) of the Pubs Code.
3.24 Where the tenant has given an MRO notice or has requested a rent proposal as referred to in paragraph 3.23(1) or (2), the claimant may choose to state the proposed terms of the new tenancy, but is not obliged to do so.
Acknowledgment of service and defence where a party is a Pubs Code tenant
3.25 Where an MRO notice has been given by the Pubs Code tenant or the claim form does not state proposed terms of the new tenancy, there is no requirement for the defendant to state in the acknowledgement of service or defence the terms of any new tenancy proposed in the claim form to which the defendant objects, or the terms the defendant proposes.
Unopposed claim where a Pubs Code tenant has given an MRO notice
3.26 In an unopposed claim where a Pubs Code tenant has given an MRO notice, following the filing of the acknowledgement of service, the court must consider whether to stay the claim pending the end of the MRO procedure.
3.27 Where the court has stayed proceedings under paragraph 3.26, the claimant must notify the court within 28 days following the end of the MRO procedure –
(1) whether any tenancy has been accepted; and
(2) where a tenancy has been accepted –
(a) the terms of the new tenancy; and
(b) whether any part of the claim is left for the court to determine (such as interim rent) and if so, what those matters are; or
(3) where no tenancy has been accepted, whether any terms of a proposed tied tenancy have been the subject of determination by the Pubs Code Adjudicator,
and in every case must file at the same time a consent order for disposal of the proceedings or proposed directions for the further conduct of the proceedings indicating whether those directions have been agreed with the defendant.
Grounds of opposition where a party is a Pubs Code tenant who has given an MRO notice
3.28 If the court dismisses the grounds of opposition in a claim where a party is a Pubs Code tenant who has given an MRO notice, the court must consider whether to stay the court proceedings pending the end of the MRO procedure.
3.29 Where the court has stayed proceedings under paragraph 3.28, the claimant must notify the court within 28 days following the end of the MRO procedure –
(1) whether any tenancy has been accepted; and
(2) where a tenancy has been accepted –
(a) the terms of the new tenancy; and
(b) whether any part of the claim is left for the court to determine (such as interim rent) and if so, what those matters are; or
(3) where no tenancy has been accepted, whether any terms of a proposed tied tenancy have been the subject of determination by the Pubs Code Adjudicator,
and in every case must file at the same time a consent order for disposal of the proceedings or proposed directions for the further conduct of the proceedings indicating whether those directions have been agreed with the defendant.
Applications for interim rent where a party is a Pubs Code tenant
3.30 Where a claim contains an application for interim rent and a party is a Pubs Code tenant who has given an MRO notice, the court must consider whether to stay determination of the issue of interim rent pending the end of the MRO procedure.
3.31 Where the court has stayed proceedings under paragraph 3.30, the claimant must notify the court within 28 days following the end of the MRO procedure –
(1) whether the terms of a new tenancy have been accepted; and
(2) if accepted, the terms of the new tenancy;
and in every case must file at the same time a consent order for disposal of the proceedings or proposed directions for the further conduct of the proceedings indicating whether those directions have been agreed with the defendant.
3.32 In a claim or application for interim rent where a party is a Pubs Code tenant who has given an MRO notice, if a party considers that section 24C(3) of the 1954 Act applies for the calculation of interim rent because an MRO tenancy has been granted, that party must provide the terms of the old tenancy and any other evidence it considers appropriate to satisfy the court that the conditions for that section to apply have been met.
OTHER CLAIMS UNDER PART II OF THE 1954 ACT
4.1 The mesne landlord to whose consent a claim for the determination of any question arising under paragraph 4(3) of Schedule 6 to the 1954 Act shall be made a defendant to the claim.
4.2 If any dispute as to the rateable value of any holding has been referred under section 37(5) of the 1954 Act to the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs for decision by a valuation officer, any document purporting to be a statement of the valuation officer of his decision is admissible as evidence of the matters contained in it.
CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS UNDER PART I OF THE 1927 ACT
The claim form
5.2 The claim form must include details of:
(1) the nature of the claim or the matter to be determined;
(2) the property to which the claim relates;
(3) the nature of the business carried on at the property;
(4) particulars of the lease or agreement for the tenancy including:
(a) the names and addresses of the parties to the lease or agreement;
(b) its duration;
(c) the rent payable;
(d) details of any assignment or other devolution of the lease or agreement;
(5) the date and mode of termination of the tenancy;
(6) if the claimant has left the property, the date on which he did so;
(7) particulars of the improvement or proposed improvement to which the claim relates; and
(8) if the claim is for payment of compensation, the amount claimed.
5.3 The court will fix a date for a hearing when it issues the claim form.
Defendant
5.4 The claimant's immediate landlord must be a defendant to the claim.
5.5 The defendant must immediately serve a copy of the claim form and any document served with it and of his acknowledgment of service on his immediate landlord. If the person so served is not the freeholder, he must serve a copy of these documents on his landlord and so on from landlord to landlord.
Certification under section 3 of the 1927 Act
5.7 If the court intends to certify under section 3 of the 1927 Act that an improvement is a proper improvement or has been duly executed, it shall do so by way of an order.
Compensation under section 1 or 8 of the 1927 Act
5.8 A claim under section 1(1) or 8(1) of the 1927 Act must be in writing, signed by the claimant, his solicitor or agent and include details of —
(1) the name and address of the claimant and of the landlord against whom the claim is made;
(2) the property to which the claim relates;
(3) the nature of the business carried on at the property;
(4) a concise statement of the nature of the claim;
(5) particulars of the improvement, including the date when it was completed and costs; and
(6) the amount claimed.
5.9 A mesne landlord must immediately serve a copy of the claim on his immediate superior landlord. If the person so served is not the freeholder, he must serve a copy of the document on his landlord and so on from landlord to landlord.
(Paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9 provide the procedure for making claims under section 1(1) and 8(1) of the 1927 Act – these ‘claims’ do not, at this stage, relate to proceedings before the court)
CLAIM TO ENFORCE OBLIGATION UNDER PART I OF THE 1987 ACT
7.1 A copy of the notice served under section 19(2)(a) of the 1987 Act must accompany the claim form seeking an order under section 19(1) of that Act.
CLAIM FOR ACQUISITION ORDER UNDER SECTION 28 OF THE 1987 ACT
Claim form
(1) identify the property to which the claim relates and give details to show that section 25 of the 1987 Act applies;
(2) give details of the claimants to show that they constitute the requisite majority of qualifying tenants;
(3) state the names and addresses of the claimants and of the landlord of the property, or, if the landlord cannot be found or his identity ascertained, the steps taken to find him or ascertain his identity;
(4) state the name and address of:
(a) the person nominated by the claimants for the purposes of Part III of the 1987 Act; and
(b) every person known to the claimants who is likely to be affected by the application, including (but not limited to), the other tenants of flats contained in the property (whether or not they could have made a claim), any mortgagee or superior landlord of the landlord, and any tenants' association (within the meaning of section 29 of the 1985 Act); and
(5) state the grounds of the claim.
Notice under section 27
8.3 A copy of the notice served on the landlord under section 27 of the 1987 Act must accompany the claim form unless the court has dispensed with the requirement to serve a notice under section 27(3) of the 1987 Act.
Defendants
8.4 The landlord of the property (and the nominated person, if he is not a claimant) must be defendants.
Service
8.5 A copy of the claim form must be served on each of the persons named by the claimant under paragraph 8.2(4)(b) together with a notice that he may apply to be made a party.
Payment into court by nominated person
8.6 If the nominated person pays money into court in accordance with an order under section 33(1) of the 1987 Act, he must file a copy of the certificate of the surveyor selected under section 33(2)(a) of that Act.
CLAIM FOR AN ORDER VARYING LEASES UNDER THE 1987 ACT
Claim form
9.2 The claim form must state:
(1) the name and address of the claimant and of the other current parties to the lease or leases to which the claim relates;
(2) the date of the lease or leases, the property to which they relate, any relevant terms and the variation sought;
(3) the name and address of every person known to the claimant who is likely to be affected by the claim, including (but not limited to), the other tenants of flats contained in premises of which the relevant property forms a part, any previous parties to the lease, any mortgagee or superior landlord of the landlord, any mortgagee of the claimant and any tenants' association (within the meaning of section 29 of the 1985 Act); and
(4) the grounds of the claim.
Service
9.4 A copy of the claim form must be served on each of the persons named under paragraph 9.2(3).
9.5 If the defendant knows of or has reason to believe that another person or persons are likely to be affected by the variation, he must serve a copy of the claim form on those persons, together with a notice that they may apply to be made a party.
Defendant's application to vary other leases
9.6 If a defendant wishes to apply to vary other leases under section 36 of the 1987 Act:
(1) he must make the application in his acknowledgment of service;
(2) paragraphs 9.2 to 9.5 apply as if the defendant were the claimant; and
(3) Part 20 does not apply.
(Paragraphs 9.1 – 9.6 no longer apply to proceedings in England but continue to apply to proceedings in Wales)
SECTION II – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ABOUT LAND
ACCESS TO NEIGHBOURING LAND ACT 1992
11.1 The claimant must use the Part 8 procedure.
11.2 The claim form must set out:
(1) details of the dominant and servient land involved and whether the dominant land includes or consists of residential property;
(2) the work required;
(3) why entry to the servient land is required with plans (if applicable);
(4) the names and addresses of the persons who will carry out the work;
(5) the proposed date when the work will be carried out; and
(6) what (if any) provision has been made by way of insurance in the event of possible injury to persons or damage to property arising out of the proposed work.
11.3 The owner and occupier of the servient land must be defendants to the claim.
CHANCEL REPAIRS ACT 1932
12.1 The claimant in a claim to recover the sum required to put a chancel in proper repair must use the Part 8 procedure.
12.2 A notice to repair under section 2 of the Chancel Repairs Act 1932 must –
(1) state –
(a) the responsible authority by whom the notice is given;
(b) the chancel alleged to be in need of repair;
(c) the repairs alleged to be necessary; and
(d) the grounds on which the person to whom the notice is addressed is alleged to be liable to repair the chancel; and
(2) call upon the person to whom the notice is addressed to put the chancel in proper repair.
12.3 The notice must be served in accordance with Part 6.
LEASEHOLD REFORM ACT 1967
13.1 In this paragraph a section or schedule referred to by number means the section or schedule so numbered in the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.
13.2 If a tenant of a house and premises wishes to pay money into court under sections 11(4), 13(1) or 13(3) –
(1) he must file in the office of the appropriate court an application notice containing or accompanied by evidence stating –
(a) the reasons for the payment into court,
(b) the house and premises to which the payment relates;
(c) the name and address of the landlord; and
(d) so far as they are known to the tenant, the name and address of every person who is or may be interested in or entitled to the money;
(2) on the filing of the witness statement the tenant must pay the money into court and the court will send notice of the payment to the landlord and every person whose name and address are given in the witness statement;
(3) any subsequent payment into court by the landlord under section 11(4) must be made to the credit of the same account as the payment into court by the tenant and sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) will apply to the landlord as if he were a tenant; and
(4) the appropriate court for the purposes of paragraph (a) is the county court for the district in which the property is situated or, if the payment into court is made by reason of a notice under section 13(3), any other county court as specified in the notice.
13.3 A claim under section 17 or 18 for an order for possession of a house and premises must be made in accordance with Part 55.
13.4
In a claim under section 17 or 18, the defendant must:
(1) immediately after being served with the claim form, serve on every person in occupation of the property or part of it under an immediate or derivative sub-tenancy, a notice informing him of the claim and of his right under paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 2 take part in the hearing of the claim with the permission of the court; and
(2) within 14 days after being served with the claim form, file a defence stating the ground, if any, on which he intends to oppose the claim and giving particulars of every such sub-tenancy.
13.5 An application made to the High Court under section 19 or 27 shall be assigned to the Chancery Division.
LEASEHOLD REFORM, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT 1993
(1) ‘the 1993 Act’ means the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993; and
(2) a section or schedule referred to by number means the section or schedule so numbered in the 1993 Act.
14.2 If a claim is made under section 23(1) by a person other than the reversioner:
(1) on the issue of the claim form in accordance with Part 8, the claimant must send a copy to the reversioner; and
14.3 Where an application is made under section 26(1) or (2) or section 50(1) or (2):
(1) it must be made by the issue of a claim form in accordance with the Part 8 procedure which need not be served on any other party; and
(2) the court may grant or refuse the application or give directions for its future conduct, including the addition as defendants of such persons as appear to have an interest in it.
14.4 An application under section 26(3) must be made by the issue of a claim form in accordance with the Part 8 procedure and:
(1) the claimants must serve the claim form on any person who they know or have reason to believe is a relevant landlord, giving particulars of the claim and the hearing date and informing that person of his right to be joined as a party to the claim;
(2) the landlord whom it is sought to appoint as the reversioner must be a defendant, and must file an acknowledgment of service;
(3) a person on whom notice is served under paragraph (1) must be joined as a defendant to the claim if he gives notice in writing to the court of his wish to be added as a party, and the court will notify all other parties of the addition.
14.5 If a person wishes to pay money into court under section 27(3), section 51(3) or paragraph 4 of Schedule 8 –
(1) he must file in the office of the appropriate court an application notice containing or accompanied by evidence stating –
(a) the reasons for the payment into court,
(b) the interest or interests in the property to which the payment relates or where the payment into court is made under section 51(3), the flat to which it relates;
(c) details of any vesting order;
(d) the name and address of the landlord; and
(e) so far as they are known to the tenant, the name and address of every person who is or may be interested in or entitled to the money;
(2) on the filing of the witness statement the money must be paid into court and the court will send notice of the payment to the landlord and every person whose name and address are given in the witness statement;
(3) any subsequent payment into court by the landlord must be made to the credit of the same account as the earlier payment into court;
14.6 If a relevant landlord acts independently under Schedule 1, paragraph 7, he is entitled to require any party to claims under the 1993 Act (as described in paragraph 7(1)(b) of Schedule 1) to supply him, on payment of the reasonable costs of copying, with copies of all documents which that party has served on the other parties to the claim.
Transfer to Leasehold Valuation Tribunal under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
15.1 If a question is ordered to be transferred to a leasehold valuation tribunal for determination under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 the court will –
(1) send notice of the transfer to all parties to the claim; and
(Paragraph 15.1 applies to proceedings in Wales but does not apply to proceedings in England.)
Transfer to the First-tier Tribunal under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
16.1 If a question is ordered to be transferred to the First-tier Tribunal for determination under section 176A of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, the court will—
(1) send notice to all parties to the claim; and
(2) send to the First-tier Tribunal—
(a) the order for transfer;
(b) all documents filed in the claim relating to the question; and
(c) copies of all orders and other entries in the records of the court relating to the question.
(Paragraph 16.1 applies to proceedings in England but does not apply to proceedings in Wales.)
