A County Court is used to resolve civil (non-criminal) disputes.
Check whether your case is something that you can apply to a tribunal to resolve, rather than court.
As a leaseholder, you might need to go to the County Court:
- to claim money for debt that you’re owed or losses that you’ve suffered
- to put things right if your landlord has broken the terms of your lease, such as not doing repairs or not providing services (sometimes called breach of covenant)
- for a decision about a leasehold issue, such as to get an order allowing you to buy the freehold of your house if your landlord is missing
- if a party breaks the terms of a signed mediation agreement, which is a binding contract
Your landlord might go to the County Court:
- to recover money you owe, such as unpaid service charges or ground rent
- to apply to take back your property (forfeiture)
A County Court can also manage cases transferred from a tribunal or enforce decisions made at a tribunal.
Outcomes you can get at the County Court
A County Court judge can grant legal remedies after a trial or hearing. These include:
- requiring the other party to pay you money (damages) to compensate you for losses
- ordering the other party to do something or stop doing something (called an injunction) for example to stop doing something that breaches your lease
- ordering the other party to comply with a legal obligation, such as requiring your landlord to do repairs (called an order for specific performance)
- making a declaration, such as saying whether the lease has been breached, or what rights you have
- Last updated:
- 21 September 2026
- Next review:
- 21 September 2028
Related content
How solicitors can help with leasehold issues, finding one and free or low-cost legal advice
Advice guideHow to resolve a leasehold dispute at a tribunal, including types of case, costs and the process
Advice guideWays of resolving a dispute without taking legal action, including mediation
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