The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

Claim for possession: failure by a defendant to acknowledge service

Rule 4—(1) Where in a mortgage claim in the Chancery Division being a claim in which the claimant is the mortgagee and claims delivery of possession or payment of moneys secured by the mortgage or both, any defendant fails to acknowledge service of the claim form, the following provisions of this rule shall apply, and references in those provisions to the defendant shall be construed as references to any such defendant.

(2) Not less than 4 clear days before the day fixed for the first hearing of the claim the claimant must serve on the defendant a copy of the notice of appointment for the hearing and a copy of the witness statement or affidavit in support of the claim.

(4) Where the hearing is adjourned, then, subject to any directions given by the Court, the claimant must serve notice of the appointment for the adjourned hearing, together with a copy of any further witness statement or affidavit intended to be used at that hearing, on the defendant not less than 2 clear days before the day fixed for the hearing.

(5) Service under paragraph (2) or (4) and the manner in which it was effected, may be proved by a certificate signed by the claimant, if he sues in person, and otherwise by his solicitor.

• The certificate may be indorsed on the witness statement or affidavit in support of the claim or, as the case may be, on any further witness statement or affidavit intended to be used at an adjourned hearing.

(6) A copy of any exhibit to a witness statement or affidavit need not accompany the copy of the witness statement or affidavit served under paragraph (2) or (4).