Last minute changes to Practice Direction 55C
PD 55C required parties to file Reactivation Notices by 29 January 2021, for possession claims brought before 3 August 2020, or a stayed claim where case management directions had been made before 20 September 2020.
On the afternoon of 29 January 2021, when the Reactivation Notice deadline was due to expire, the Government extended the deadline to do this to 30 April 2021. After this date, a possession claim will be stayed automatically, and a party will have to file an application using form N244 asking the court to lift the stay. This application does not require a request for relief from sanctions.
PD 55C was due to expire on 28 March 2021 but this deadline has now been extended to 30 July 2021.
Another important point to note is that on 20 January 2021, form N244 was updated to incorporate a new Statement of Truth and this must be used when any application is made (until any new update is implemented).