Form N122 UK: Demotion Order Particulars of Claim

What this document is

Form N122 is the court form used to set out the particulars of claim when a social landlord asks the court for either a demotion order or an order suspending a tenant's right to buy. A demotion order converts a secure or assured tenancy into a less secure 'demoted' tenancy for a period, usually twelve months, making it easier to recover possession if the tenant's conduct does not improve.

Suspension of the right to buy pauses a secure tenant's ability to purchase their home while antisocial behaviour proceedings are live or ongoing. Only certain bodies can bring these claims: local housing authorities, registered social landlords, and private registered providers of social housing.

Private landlords cannot use this route. The form sits alongside Form N121 (the claim form itself) and is filed at the county court hearing centre covering the area where the property is located. Accurate completion is important because any statement made in the particulars is treated as a statement of truth, with consequences attached if it turns out to be false.

How to use this document

1. Complete the court and party details. At the top of the form, fill in the name of the county court hearing centre, the claim number issued on your N121, and the full names of the claimant (the landlord) and the defendant (the tenant). Make sure these details match exactly across every document you file. Inconsistencies between forms are a common cause of administrative delays and queries from court staff.
2. Set out the tenancy and rent information. The next section asks for the details of the tenancy itself: the address of the property, the type of tenancy, when it started, the current rent, and how often it is paid. Be precise here. If the tenancy has been varied or transferred, note that clearly. This section gives the court the factual foundation of the landlord-tenant relationship before you move on to the conduct being complained about.
3. Provide the specific details supporting your claim. This is the heart of the form. You need to describe the conduct relied on, whether that is antisocial behaviour, breach of tenancy terms, or other matters. Dates, locations, witnesses, and the impact on neighbours or staff should be set out clearly. If a written statement of express terms of the tenancy has been served on the defendant, include the details. Vague allegations rarely succeed, so specificity matters.
4. Attach evidence of any required notice. For demotion order claims, the landlord generally must have served a notice of intention to apply for a demotion order on the tenant before issuing proceedings. You will need to confirm this has been done and include particulars of the notice, including when and how it was served. Missing or defective notices are one of the most frequent reasons demotion claims fail, so double-check this before filing.
5. Sign the statement of truth and file. Once every section is complete, the form must be signed and dated. The signature comes from the claimant or, where appropriate, the claimant's litigation friend, and a legal representative may sign on behalf of the claimant in certain cases. The statement of truth carries real weight. File the completed N122 alongside the N121 at the correct court, pay the issue fee (check gov.uk for current amount), and keep copies for your records.

Common questions