What Form N379 is for
The form to secure a judgment debt against property the debtor owns, so it is paid when the property is sold or remortgaged.
Who files it: The judgment creditor.
The official form is published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Download the current version from GOV.UK rather than reusing an old copy, because the forms change.
When to use it
- The debtor owns or co-owns a house, flat or land in England and Wales.
- You want security for a debt that will take time to recover, or leverage to negotiate payment.
Deadline and fee
Court fee: £139 (EX50, 13 July 2026) plus a Land Registry fee to register the restriction. (EX50 fee list)
If you are on a low income or benefits you may not have to pay court fees. Apply with Form EX160, Help with Fees. Fees you do pay are added to the amount the other side owes if you win.
Work out the full cost of a claim, including the hearing fee, with the court fee calculator or see the fees for a claim of a given amount.
How to complete it
Every County Court form follows the same rules: use the claim number exactly as it appears on the court’s letters, give full names and addresses for each party, write dates in full, and sign the statement of truth in your own name. A statement of truth is a promise to the court that the contents are true, and a false one is contempt of court.
The Enforcement Toolkit checks the title number, fills the N379, and drafts the Land Registry application so the interim charging order is protected as soon as it is made.
See the Enforcement Toolkit →Questions people ask
Does a charging order force a sale?
Not by itself. It secures the debt. Forcing a sale needs a separate application under CPR 73.10C and courts rarely order it for small debts against a home. The charge is usually paid when the owner sells or remortgages.
Can I get a charging order on a jointly owned house?
Yes, over the debtor's beneficial share. The co-owner must be served and can object, but a charge over one share is routinely granted.
CourtPilot is an information and document-preparation service, not a law firm. Nothing on this page is legal advice. Court fees change; the figures here were checked against the published EX50 on 2026-08-29.