Form N244 is the court's general-purpose "Application Notice" — the form you use to ask a judge to make almost any order in existing proceedings that doesn't already have its own dedicated form. It isn't specific to housing or possession cases; the same form is used across the entire civil court system, from commercial disputes to family finance applications. What makes it relevant to landlords is that several important post-judgment situations in possession proceedings are handled through N244 rather than through a form of their own.
Unlike Form N5 (which starts a possession claim) or Form N325 (which requests a straightforward warrant of possession), N244 is deliberately open-ended. It works alongside the underlying claim or order rather than replacing it, and the court decides what to do with it based on the box 3 statement of grounds and whatever evidence you attach.
The three situations landlords use N244 for
1. Enforcing a possession order after six years. This is by far the most common reason a landlord ends up needing N244. Under CPR rule 83.2, if six years or more have passed since a possession order was made, you cannot simply request a warrant — you first need the court's permission to enforce. That permission is obtained by filing Form N244 together with a witness statement setting out why enforcement wasn't pursued sooner and confirming the order (or any suspension of it) is still in force. There is no dedicated form for this scenario; N244 is the correct and only route. The rule permits this application to be made without notice to the other party unless the court directs otherwise, so it doesn't automatically mean a hearing — but because the delay itself is what the court is scrutinising, a thin or vague witness statement is still the single biggest reason these applications stall or get directed to a hearing anyway.
2. Varying or suspending a judgment, order, or warrant. If circumstances have changed since a possession order was made — for example the tenant has proposed a revised repayment plan, or you need more time before enforcement — you apply to vary or suspend using N244. This sits in its own, lower fee category (see below). The same applies if a warrant has already been issued and either party wants it stayed or adjusted.
3. Transferring enforcement to the High Court. County Court bailiffs can be slow, and in some cases a landlord will want to use High Court Enforcement Officers instead, who generally act faster. To do this, you apply for permission to transfer enforcement to the High Court using N244, paired with Form N293A (the combined certificate and application for writ of possession) once permission is granted. See our dedicated page on Form N293A for the mechanics of that second step.
When N244 is the wrong form
N244's flexibility means it gets reached for in situations it isn't meant to cover. Three to watch for:
- Starting a possession claim. N244 cannot open proceedings. You need Form N5 (claim form) with Form N119 (particulars of claim) to begin a possession case in the first place.
- A straightforward, in-time warrant request. If the possession order is less than six years old and you simply want to enforce it, use Form N325 (request for warrant of possession). It's cheaper, simpler, and doesn't require the court's permission or a witness statement explaining delay. Reaching for N244 here means paying a higher fee and adding an unnecessary evidential burden for no benefit.
- Defending a claim or acknowledging service. These have their own forms — N11/N11R for defending, N9 for acknowledgment of service — and N244 plays no part in either.
Filing the wrong form doesn't just waste the fee; it can also delay the underlying enforcement while the court works out what you actually needed.
Fees (from 13 July 2026)
Court fees for applications increased under SI 2026/642 (as amended by SI 2026/665). The current figures for Form N244 are:
| Application type | Fee |
|---|---|
| General application, on notice (the other party is told and can respond) | £321 |
| Application by consent of all parties, or without notice | £126 |
| Application to vary or suspend a judgment, order, or warrant | £16 |
Always check the current EX50 fees leaflet before filing, since these figures are reviewed periodically and this page will be updated if they change again.
Completion pitfalls
The form itself is short, but three mistakes account for most rejected or adjourned applications:
- No supporting evidence. Except for the simplest procedural requests, the court expects a witness statement (or at minimum clear supporting documents) alongside the form. An application that just says "please grant permission to enforce" with nothing behind it will usually be adjourned for evidence to be filed — costing time and sometimes a second hearing fee.
- Paying the wrong fee. Landlords sometimes assume every application is £321, or conversely assume a consent application is automatically £126 when in fact the other side hasn't actually agreed — and a straightforward variation or suspension application is a separate, cheaper £16 category again. Confirm which category genuinely applies before paying.
- Vague statement of grounds. Box 3 asks what order you want and why. "To enforce the order" isn't enough — spell out the specific order sought (permission under CPR rule 83.2, a variation, a transfer to the High Court) and reference the evidence that supports it.
What happens after filing
Six-year enforcement permission applications can be made without notice to the other party unless the court directs otherwise, so many are dealt with by a judge on paper based on the form and witness statement alone. Where the court isn't satisfied on the papers, or directs a hearing to test the explanation for delay, a short hearing will be listed instead. Contested applications more generally — for example a disputed variation or suspension — are more likely to be listed for a hearing. At any hearing, the judge considers the grounds and evidence and decides whether to grant the order sought, refuse it, or list the matter for further evidence.
This page provides general legal information for landlords in England and Wales, not legal advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice on your specific circumstances. Tenancy Agreement Service is a publisher, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. For guidance on your particular case, consult a qualified solicitor or your local court.
Common questions
What is Form N244 used for?
Form N244, the Application Notice, is the general-purpose form for asking a court to make almost any order during or after proceedings that doesn't have its own dedicated form. In a possession context, landlords typically use it to ask permission to enforce an old possession order, to vary or suspend an order or warrant, or to transfer enforcement to the High Court.
Do I need Form N244 to enforce a possession order after six years?
Yes. Under CPR rule 83.2, if six years or more have passed since the possession order was made, you need the court's permission before you can enforce it, and you apply for that permission using Form N244 together with a witness statement explaining the delay. There is no separate dedicated form for this — N244 is the correct route. The rule allows this application to be made without notice to the other party unless the court directs otherwise, so it is not automatically a hearing.
What does Form N244 cost?
It depends on what you're asking for. From 13 July 2026, a general application made on notice (where the other party is told and can respond) costs £321; an application made with the consent of all parties, or made without notice, costs £126. A more limited category — applying to vary or suspend a judgment, order or warrant — costs £16. Check the current EX50 fees leaflet before filing, as these figures are periodically uprated and the category you're applying under determines the fee.
Can I use Form N244 instead of a possession claim?
No. Form N244 cannot be used to start possession proceedings. To begin a claim you need Form N5 (claim form) and Form N119 (particulars of claim). N244 only applies once proceedings already exist or once you already have an order.
Do I need a witness statement with Form N244?
In almost every substantive application, yes. Box 3 of the form asks you to state what order you want and why, but the court expects this to be backed by proper evidence — usually a witness statement, and sometimes supporting documents such as correspondence or a rent account. Filing N244 with no evidence is the most common reason applications get adjourned.
What happens after I file Form N244?
Straightforward or consent applications are sometimes dealt with on paper by a judge without a hearing. Contested applications, or ones where the court wants to hear from both sides — such as most six-year enforcement permission applications — are listed for a hearing, at which the judge decides whether to grant the order sought.