Small Claims Court 2026 — Fees, Process & How to Claim

What is the Small Claims Track?

The Small Claims Track is the informal route through the County Court for disputes up to £10,000 (or £1,000 for personal injury and housing disrepair claims). It is designed for people without legal representation. Legal costs are not normally recoverable even if you win, which keeps the stakes lower for both parties.

What you can claim

Money owed for goods or services
Refunds for faulty goods under the Consumer Rights Act 2015
Compensation for poor services
Deposit disputes with landlords (up to £10,000)
Debt recovery between businesses or individuals
Minor personal injury claims (up to £1,000)

Before you issue proceedings

Courts expect parties to attempt to resolve disputes before issuing a claim. You should:

Write a Letter Before Action giving the defendant a reasonable time to pay (usually 14–30 days)
Be ready to mediate — if a money claim up to £10,000 is defended, the court refers both sides to a free one-hour telephone mediation with the Small Claims Mediation Service before any hearing
Keep all evidence — receipts, emails, photos, contracts, correspondence

Issuing the claim — fees

Claim amount	Court issue fee
Up to £300	£35
£300.01 – £500	£50
£500.01 – £1,000	£70
£1,000.01 – £1,500	£80
£1,500.01 – £3,000	£115
£3,000.01 – £5,000	£205
£5,000.01 – £10,000	£455

Issue online at moneyclaims.service.gov.uk — usually faster than a paper claim (the issue fee is the same). If the claim is defended and goes to a hearing, a separate hearing fee is payable, from £27 (claims up to £300) to £346 (over £3,000). Fees are from the court fees list EX50 as updated on 13 July 2026.