How long do I have to bring a civil claim?

The time limit is six years for both claims covered by the Limitation Act 1980. For tort, section 2 bars an action brought more than six years after the cause of action accrued. Section 5 applies the same six years to an action founded on simple contract. Both limits matter because each runs from the date the cause of action accrued.

Can my landlord still use a section 21 notice?

No, not for a privately rented property in England since 1 May 2026. GOV.UK says landlords cannot use section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to seek possession. A landlord can only give notice under section 8 of the same Act. As a result, the landlord must have a legal reason, known as a ground for possession.

What is the small claims limit?

The limit is £10,000: the small claims track is the normal track for a claim worth not more than that. This comes from Part 27 of the Civil Procedure Rules. However, special provisions apply to personal injury and housing disrepair claims. Therefore, check which rules apply to your type of claim.

What is professional negligence?

It is a claim against a professional for alleged negligence, or an equivalent breach of contract or fiduciary duty. However, the Pre-Action Protocol for Professional Negligence excludes claims against construction professionals and healthcare providers. Under it, the professional has three months from the date of the Letter of Acknowledgment to investigate and respond to the Letter of Claim.

Dispute resolution in London

Q: What are the steps before starting a court claim?

The usual steps are simple where no specific protocol applies. First, the claimant writes to the defendant with concise details of the claim. Then the defendant replies within a reasonable time, which means 14 days in a straightforward case and no more than 3 months in a very complex one. Finally, the parties disclose key documents. Litigation should be a last resort, so consider negotiation or ADR such as mediation first.

Q: What does it cost to make a money claim?

The fee depends on the amount you claim. GOV.UK lists £35 up to £300, £70 for £500.01 to £1,000, £205 for £3,000.01 to £5,000 and £455 for £5,000.01 to £10,000. For £10,000.01 to £200,000, the fee is 5 per cent of the claim. Help with fees may be available on a low income.

Two men seated opposite each other at a wooden table with a blank sheet of paper in front of each

At a glance

Time limit, contract and tort: Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980 says an action founded on simple contract shall not be brought after six years from the date the cause of action accrued.
Small claims track: Under the Civil Procedure Rules, the small claims track is the normal track for a claim with a financial value of not more than £10,000, subject to special provisions for personal injury and housing disrepair claims.
Section 21 notices: From 1 May 2026, GOV.UK says landlords cannot use section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to seek possession of a privately rented property in England.
Mediation: GOV.UK says that if your money claim is £10,000 or less you will be told you must attend mediation organised by the court, a free telephone appointment; above £10,000 the court may offer to organise mediation.

What dispute resolution covers

You may be trying to recover money you are owed, settle a problem with a landlord or tenant, or act on a professional’s mistake. These are all civil disputes. They cover money claims, landlord and tenant disputes and professional negligence, among other matters.

Because the problems differ, the court route differs too. Civil Procedure Rules Part 26 says there are four tracks: the small claims track, the fast track, the intermediate track and the multi-track. This page gives a plain overview of each area. However, it cannot tell you which track suits your case.

Time limits for civil claims

Time limits matter, because the law can bar a claim that comes too late. Section 2 of the Limitation Act 1980 says an action founded on tort shall not be brought after six years from the date the cause of action accrued. Section 5 says the same for an action founded on simple contract.

We cannot say whether any particular claim is in time, because each case has its own dates. Therefore, note the dates of key events now, and ask a solicitor to check your position early. Keep any letters or emails that show those dates.

Steps to take before going to court

The Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct says litigation should be a last resort. It says parties should consider negotiation or ADR before they issue a claim. ADR includes mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation and ombudsmen schemes.

Where no specific protocol applies, the usual steps are simple. The claimant writes to the defendant with concise details of the claim. The defendant then replies within a reasonable time, which means 14 days in a straightforward case and no more than 3 months in a very complex one. Finally, the parties disclose key documents.

Mediation has its own help. GOV.UK says that for disputes under £50,000 in value, the Civil Mediation Council hosts a Fixed Fee Mediation Scheme. The Council describes itself as an information resource for civil, commercial and workplace mediation in England and Wales, and it offers a Find a Mediator page.

For a money claim of £10,000 or less, GOV.UK says the court will tell you that you must attend mediation, a free telephone appointment. Above £10,000, however, the court may offer to organise mediation.

Money claims and court fees

GOV.UK says you can apply to a county court to claim money that a person or business owes you. This is known as making a court claim, and people formerly often called it a small claims court. You can apply online or by post.

You can make a money claim online unless, for example, you do not know how much you want to claim. Online claims are also unavailable if you claim against 3 or more people or organisations. They are unavailable too if you or those you claim against have no address in England or Wales. Otherwise, you claim by post.

Under Civil Procedure Rules Part 27, the small claims track is the normal track for a claim worth not more than £10,000. However, special provisions apply to personal injury and housing disrepair claims.

As for fees, GOV.UK lists £35 up to £300, £70 for £500.01 to £1,000, £205 for £3,000.01 to £5,000 and £455 for £5,000.01 to £10,000. For £10,000.01 to £200,000, the fee is 5 per cent of the claim. Help with fees may be available on a low income.

Landlord and tenant disputes

The rules for private renters changed this year. From 1 May 2026, GOV.UK says landlords cannot use section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to seek possession of a privately rented property in England. Since that date, a landlord can only give notice under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988. As a result, the landlord must have a legal reason, known as a ground for possession.

Other routes exist for disputes about conditions and rent. Justice UK publishes a Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims (England), which is relevant to tenants in disrepair disputes. If you cannot resolve a complaint with your landlord through its complaint procedure, the Housing Ombudsman Service says it may be able to help.

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) handles residential property disputes. These include rent increases, leasehold disputes, leasehold enfranchisement and rent repayment orders. When you look for landlord and tenant solicitors london firms offer, keep your notices, dates and messages to hand. For more detail, read our guide to landlord and tenant disputes.

Professional negligence

The Pre-Action Protocol for Professional Negligence applies where a claimant wishes to claim against a professional for alleged negligence or equivalent breach of contract or fiduciary duty. However, it does not cover construction professionals or healthcare providers. Under the protocol, the professional has three months from the date of the Letter of Acknowledgment to investigate and respond to the Letter of Claim.

If you are weighing up professional negligence solicitors london has, our guide to first steps in professional negligence claims is a good place to start.

A complaint about a solicitor’s service can go to the Legal Ombudsman. It publishes guidance on complaints alleging negligence. It says it receives complaints that could count as a cause of action in negligence or as a complaint about service. However, you must first complain to the legal service provider, which has up to eight weeks to put things right.

Fees, legal aid and free help

We give no solicitor price here, since costs depend on the job. GOV.UK says legal aid might cover problems such as homelessness, eviction or serious disrepair. It also lists domestic abuse or forced marriage, a child at risk of being taken into care, family mediation, discrimination and asylum.

If you cannot get legal aid, GOV.UK points to free advice from the Law Centres Network, Citizens Advice and AdviceNow. The Law Centres Network says Law Centres help people in poverty overcome legal problems. It lists all Law Centres across the UK on one page.

London civil courts

The County Court at Central London is in the Thomas More Building, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL. It handles housing and money claims. The Royal Courts of Justice is on the Strand, London WC2A 2LL, and handles High Court, Court of Appeal and civil cases.

Because the right court depends on the case, use Find a Court or Tribunal on GOV.UK. It gives each court or tribunal’s address, opening times, what it handles and contact details.

Questions to ask a dispute resolution solicitor

Since you are choosing a civil litigation solicitor in London, put these questions to them:

What are the likely costs, and what could change them?
What is the risk if the claim does not succeed?
Are there options other than court, such as mediation?
How long might each step take, and what do you need from me?

Then check that the solicitor is regulated before you instruct anyone.

Finding a dispute resolution solicitor in your borough

Start with the page for the borough where your dispute arose: Bromley, Merton, Croydon, Harrow or Newham.