Possession claim: forms N5, N119 and Possession Claim Online
Once the date in your section 8 notice has passed and the tenant is still there, you apply to the county court for a possession order. Here is which route to use, what it costs and what to send. (The accelerated possession procedure for section 21 is closed to new claims.)
Information, not legal advice. Know Your Let is not a law firm and does not act in court cases. We can help with the notice stage (see pricing); court claims and hearings are for you or a solicitor.
Which route?
| Possession Claim Online (PCOL) | Paper: N5 + N119 | |
|---|---|---|
| Use it for | Claims only for rent owed | Any section 8 ground |
| Fee | £415 (card or Direct Debit) | £415 (cheque, card by phone or at the counter, or fee account) |
| Evidence | Payments due and received for up to 2 years | Notice, proof of service, evidence for each ground |
| Help with fees | Not available online – use paper | Apply before you claim |
| Sent to | Online | The county court that covers housing possession in your area |
What to send with a paper claim
- N5 claim form for possession of property.
- N119 particulars of claim: the tenancy, the notice, the grounds, arrears and the tenant's circumstances as far as you know them.
- A copy of the Form 3A notice you served, and N215 certificate of service (optional but recommended).
- A rent statement for arrears claims, and other evidence for each ground.
- At least one extra copy of each document, plus one for each additional tenant – the court serves them.
By email you can send one email only, no larger than 10 MB and no more than 25 printed pages. Find your court.
Court fees for possession claims
| Item | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Possession claim - County Court (paper N5/N5B or online PCOL: same fee) | N5 / N5B / PCOL | £415 |
| Possession claim - issued in the High Court (exceptional; needs certificate of reasons) | N5 in High Court | £559 |
| Warrant of possession (County Court bailiff) | N325 | £152 |
| Further attempt to execute a warrant at a new address | — | £38 |
| Application without notice / by consent - e.g. permission to transfer possession order to High Court for enforcement (s.42 CCA 1984 + CPR 83.13) | N244 | £126 |
| Application on notice (general) - e.g. transfer-up application if made on notice | N244 | £321 |
| Sealing a High Court writ of possession / control (after transfer; N293A route for trespasser orders and money judgments) | N293A / writ | £82 |
| Application to suspend a warrant of possession / vary judgment (usually tenant) | N244 | £16 |
EX50 Civil court fees, from 13 July 2026. Some GOV.UK guidance pages still show the earlier amounts (£148 warrant, £123 transfer, £80 writ).
What happens after you claim
The court sends the tenant the papers, sends you a notice of issue with a claim number and fixes a hearing date. The tenant has 14 days to file a defence. At least 14 days before the hearing, send the court a copy of all case documents. For private landlords in Q2 2026, the median from claim to possession order was 8.0 wks. What happens at the hearing.
Common questions
What is an accelerated possession order?
An order made on paper, usually without a hearing, in a claim based on a section 21 notice (form N5B). Because section 21 notices had to be used to start proceedings by 31 July 2026 at the latest, no new accelerated claims can be started. Section 8 claims always have a hearing.
How much does a possession claim cost?
The court fee is £415 in the County Court, whether you use paper form N5 or Possession Claim Online (EX50, from 13 July 2026). A later warrant for bailiffs is £152. Help with fees is available for people on low incomes.
What is an N5 form?
Form N5 is the claim form for possession of property. With it you file form N119 (particulars of claim for rented residential property), a copy of the section 8 notice and your evidence.
Can I claim possession online?
Yes, through Possession Claim Online (PCOL), but only if you are evicting the tenant only for rent owed. Other grounds use the paper forms.
We don't issue or run court claims. If you want a solicitor to do it, see eviction solicitors.
Related guides
Fees plus typical solicitor charges.Possession hearing →
Orders the judge can make.Section 8 notice →
Get the notice right first.Eviction courts →
Volumes and backlog by court.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Repossessing your privately rented property after 1 May 2026
- GOV.UK: Possession Claim Online
- GOV.UK: Form N5 – claim form for possession of property
- GOV.UK: Form N119 – particulars of claim for possession
- GOV.UK: Form N215 – certificate of service
- GOV.UK: Civil court fees (EX50), updated 13 July 2026
- GOV.UK: Get help with court fees
- GOV.UK: Giving notice of possession to tenants before 1 May 2026
Last checked 28 Sep 2026. Figures and fees change; check the official source before you act.