Scott schedule in housing disrepair claims: what it is and how it works

A Scott schedule is a document used in civil litigation to set out competing positions on a list of disputed issues. In housing disrepair cases, it is commonly used to present the landlord's and the tenant's positions on each item of disrepair in a structured, side-by-side format. Below we set out what a Scott schedule is and how it fits into a disrepair claim.

What is a Scott schedule?

A Scott schedule (also known as a Scott order schedule) is a table used in civil litigation to set out, item by item, the parties' positions on disputed issues. In a housing disrepair claim, each row of the table represents a separate item of disrepair.

The format typically includes columns for:

• The item of disrepair (for example: damp in bedroom, broken heating, failed window seal)
• The tenant's description of the problem and when it was first reported
• The surveyor's findings
• The landlord's response to each item (agreed, disputed, or with conditions)
• The parties' estimates of the cost or remedial works required

When is a Scott schedule used?

Not every housing disrepair claim will involve a Scott schedule. They are more commonly used when:

• There are multiple items of disrepair
• The parties disagree about what is wrong, what caused it, or what needs to be done
• The claim is heading toward a trial (rather than being settled beforehand)
• The court has ordered the parties to produce one

In many straightforward disrepair cases, the claim is settled through negotiation before reaching a stage where a Scott schedule is needed. The schedule is more a tool for courtroom preparation than for the early stages of a claim.

Who prepares a Scott schedule?

A Scott schedule is usually prepared by the claimant's solicitor using information from the expert surveyor's report. Once completed, it is served on the landlord, who is then required to fill in their own column with their responses to each item.

This process helps to narrow down the issues in dispute. If the landlord accepts most items but disputes one or two, the hearing can focus on those specific issues rather than going through everything from scratch.

What is the link between the Scott schedule and the expert's report?

The expert surveyor's report usually forms the basis of the Scott schedule. The surveyor inspects the property, identifies each item of disrepair, describes its cause, and sets out what works are needed to remedy it. The Scott schedule then organises this information in the structured side-by-side format.

Do I need to understand a Scott schedule as a tenant?

If you are represented by a solicitor in your housing disrepair claim, your solicitor will prepare or review the Scott schedule on your behalf. You do not need to write it yourself. But it is useful to understand that:

• The schedule sets out every item of disrepair that forms part of your claim
• It records your landlord's position on each item
• It helps both sides and the court understand exactly what is in dispute

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

We handle housing disrepair claims for tenants in England on a no-win no-fee basis. If your rented home has disrepair your landlord has failed to fix, we can assess whether you have a claim.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.

Sources

• Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims (England) (justice.gov.uk)
• Civil Procedure Rules, Part 35 (experts and assessors) (justice.gov.uk)