Online possession proceedings move to digital service
Site Administrator · 15 September 2026 · 3 min read
Courts are introducing a new digital system for possession cases. Landlords and tenants should know what the changes mean.
A practice direction setting out how possession proceedings will work through a new digital service has been published. The direction supplements the Online Procedure Rules 2026 and applies to England and Wales. It sets out the detailed procedural requirements and operational arrangements for courts handling possession cases through the digital service.
The practice direction is described as a draft for information only. It covers how possession proceedings conducted using the digital service will handle communications, hearings, evidence and court orders.
Possession proceedings — cases where a landlord or other party seeks to recover property — will now follow procedures designed specifically for online conduct. The practice direction fills in the detail that the Online Procedure Rules 2026 establish as the framework for all online proceedings.
What the practice direction covers
The document sets out procedural requirements for possession proceedings using the digital service. It addresses communications between the court and parties, how hearings will take place, how evidence will be submitted and presented, and the format of court orders.
The practice direction is intended to work alongside the Online Procedure Rules 2026, which establish the broader framework for online court proceedings. Together they form the rules that will govern how possession cases move through the courts digitally.
Who this affects
The practice direction applies to possession proceedings in England and Wales. This includes landlords bringing possession claims and tenants defending them. It also affects courts administering the digital service and any representatives or legal advisers involved in possession cases.
The direction comes from the Online Procedure Rule Committee, the body responsible for setting rules for online court proceedings.
What happens next
The practice direction is currently published as a draft for information only. Users of the digital service will need to follow the detailed procedural requirements it sets out when the service operates.
Questions landlords and tenants are asking
What is the Online Procedure Rules for Possession Proceedings?
It is a practice direction that sets out procedural requirements for possession cases handled through a new digital service. It covers how communications, hearings, evidence and orders will work in an online format.
Does this apply to all possession cases?
The practice direction applies to possession proceedings in England and Wales that use the digital service for possession proceedings.
Is this practice direction now in force?
The practice direction is published as a draft for information only. It supplements the Online Procedure Rules 2026, which establish the framework for online proceedings.
How YouRent helps
If you are a landlord considering possession proceedings, YouRent can introduce you to a regulated law firm for advice on your specific circumstances. Contact YouRent about possession enquiries to be put in touch with legal support.
This is a summary of a published practice direction and not legal advice.
