Reactivation Notice: Pursuant to Practice Direction 55C

Introduction

It is not clear whether a prescribed form of reactivation notice will be provided by the court service, but it is clear from PD55C what information the court will require when considering a request to reactivate a stayed claim as set out below. This form may therefore be used as a checklist.

The content includes:

• Case details

• Rent arrears

• Case Management

• Impact of Coronavirus on the Defendant

• Service of the reactivation notice

Case details

Please provide, in accordance with para 2.3(a):

• details of the Parties, Claim Number and Court

• a statement confirming you wish the case to be:

a) listed;

b) re-listed;

c) heard, or

d) referred to a Judge (Accelerated Procedure for Assured shorthold – S21 Claims)

Rent arrears

Where a claim for possession is based on rent arrears, the reactivation notice must, in accordance with para 2.4:

• Include an up-to-date rent statement for the last 2 years.

Case Management

Where in a stayed claim the court made an order for directions before 23 August 2020, para 5.1 states the reactivation notice must:

• Include a copy of last Order for directions;

• Include a statement whether further directions are needed or not:

a) If yes, confirm what further directions are required in a draft order

b) If no, include a statement that existing dates can be met

Note - an existing hearing date can only be after 4 October 2020 (42 days from the PD coming into force and assuming the reactivation notice is served on 23 August 2020)

• Include a statement whether the case can be heard by audio or video link.

Impact of Coronavirus on the Defendant

Paragraph 2.3(b) states that the reactivation notice must set out what knowledge the landlord has of the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Defendant and their dependants.

Landlords should review their records and contact the Defendant in advance of the reactivation notice to obtain as much information as possible about the effect of the Coronavirus on them and their household. Contact may be by home visit, telephone, electronic communication or letter.

The Defendant may not wish to provide information for data protection reasons or to avoid the claim being listed, relisted, heard or referred and therefore landlords should retain all records of (attempted) contact to obtain information as it might be necessary to rely on the attempted contact at court.

Landlords should therefore investigate and record the following:

• the composition of the Defendant’s household, including:

a) Number of adults and children

b)     Relationship to the Defendant

c)     Age of the occupiers

d)     Any disability or vulnerability issues 

• What steps have you taken to contact the Defendant?

• What knowledge you have about the effect of the Coronavirus on the Defendant, including:

a)     Financial effect (employment status, loss of earnings, entitlement to benefits etc) 

b)     Health (physical or mental)

• What information you have about the change of circumstances or impact of Coronavirus on any dependants?

a)     Financial effect on those that might contribute to household income;

b)     Health (physical or mental)

c)     Death of relatives/dependants

Service of the reactivation notice

Once complete, the reactivation notice must be filed dat court and served on the Defendant. 
Landlords should:

• Complete a Certificate eof Service to prove service on the Defendant.