Form T383 UK: Rights of Light Tribunal Certificate

What this document is

Form T383 is the application you send to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) to obtain a certificate under section 2 of the Rights of Light Act 1959. The certificate is the gateway to registering a Light Obstruction Notice against a neighbouring building in the local land charges register.

That registration has a specific legal effect: it is treated as if an actual structure of the described height and position had been built on the applicant's land, interrupting the passage of light to the neighbour's window. Why does this matter?

Under the Prescription Act 1832, a person who has received uninterrupted natural light through a defined aperture for at least twenty years can acquire a permanent right to that light. Registering a Light Obstruction Notice is a way to create that interruption on paper, without actually building anything, so that the twenty-year clock is broken.

The Tribunal's certificate confirms that appropriate notice has been given to those affected, or, in urgent cases, that a temporary notice can be registered while wider notification takes place.

How to use this document

1. Check whether a notice is the right tool. Before filing Form T383, think carefully about whether registering a Light Obstruction Notice actually fits your situation. It is typically used where a neighbour's window is approaching the twenty-year threshold that would give them a permanent right of light. If you are unsure, take a view on the age of the neighbouring building and the likely impact of your proposed development.
2. Gather information about the servient land. You will need to clearly identify the land you own or occupy, along with your capacity (for example, freeholder, long leaseholder, or mortgagee in possession). A plan showing the land and the position, height and dimensions of the notional obstruction is usually required. Accurate descriptions reduce the risk of the Tribunal asking for further information.
3. Identify everyone likely to be affected. The form asks you to list the occupiers and those with a proprietary interest in the dominant building, which is the property that benefits from the light. This may include freeholders, tenants, subtenants and mortgagees. Attach a continuation page if the list is long, and take reasonable steps to check the register of title and on-site occupation.
4. Decide whether urgency applies. The Act allows the Tribunal to direct registration of a temporary notice where the matter is one of exceptional urgency, for instance if the twenty-year period is close to expiring. If you rely on urgency, you must say so clearly on the form and be ready to explain why the ordinary notification process cannot be completed in time.
5. Submit the application and pay the fee. Send the completed Form T383, supporting plan and any continuation pages to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), together with the applicable fee. Check gov.uk for the current amount. Once the certificate is issued, you then apply to the local authority to register the Light Obstruction Notice against the dominant property.

Common questions