On 7 September 2026, the Online Procedure Rules 2026 (the Rules) came into force for registered providers of social housing. Initially, these apply only to possession proceedings and have been introduced on a pilot basis – but their introduction nonetheless marks a step forward in the digitisation of civil court proceedings.

The Rules applicable to County Court possession proceedings are set out in the practice direction for Online Procedure Rules for Possession Proceedings which can be found here. This insight looks at the practice direction and explores which possession claims the new Rules cover, which are excluded and what the new process means in practice.

Which possession claims are covered?

The pilot is currently limited to a specific category of social housing possession claims. To fall within its scope, proceedings must have been started on or after 7 September 2026 and the claimant must be a registered provider of social housing in England (or a community landlord in Wales).

The claim must relate to a social housing property, excluding market-rent tenancies, and the property itself must be within one of the postcode areas identified in the practice direction.

At present, the online process also applies to possession proceedings that would ordinarily be allocated to one of four court centres:

1. Bradford
2. Caernarfon
3. Huddersfield
4. Wandsworth

The relevant postcodes for each court centre are set out in Appendix A of the practice direction.

What proceedings are excluded?

The new Rules do not apply to every type of possession claim. In particular, accelerated possession proceedings, which are commonly used where possession is sought following service of a section 21 notice, remain outside the pilot.

Other excluded proceedings include applications for an interim possession order, claims for possession against trespassers and proceedings for relief against forfeiture of a lease.

There are also certain types of application which are not treated as online proceedings where they are issued separately from possession proceedings. These include applications for a demotion order, a suspension order and a prohibited conduct standard contract order.

What does the new process mean in practice?

Where a possession claim falls within the scope of the Rules, the claimant must issue the proceedings online using the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) digital service available through GOV.UK. The proceedings will then continue to be managed online, including the progression of the claim, filing of documents and listing.

The aim is to make the process more accessible and efficient, while reducing some of the administrative steps involved in issuing and progressing possession claims. For registered providers in particular, this represents a significant change in the way possession proceedings will be commenced and managed.

Conclusion

This latest development follows the increasing use of digital systems elsewhere in civil litigation. We have already seen disrepair claims being issued through the online Damages Claims Portal and the digitisation of possession proceedings appears likely to be only the beginning. Further types of proceedings are expected to move into the online system under the Online Procedure Rules, meaning that the way in which claims are issued and managed through the courts is likely to continue changing significantly and organisations will have to become familiar with the online portal.

The practice direction is available on GOV.UK and sets out the full scope of the pilot, including the relevant postcode areas and the types of proceedings which are excluded. It is currently in draft form and may be amended as the online process develops.

How Capsticks can help

Capsticks advises over 200 registered providers on all aspects of housing management, including possession claims and tenancy enforcement. Our specialist team can support landlords in adapting to the new digital possession process, helping to ensure claims are managed efficiently, compliantly and with minimal disruption.

If you have any questions related to this insight and how Capsticks can help your organisation, please contact Partner Gavinder Ryait.