The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

Service of claim form

Rule 3—(1) Where any person in occupation of the land is named in the claim form, the application shall be served on him—

(a) by delivering to him personally a copy of the claim form, together with the notice of the return day and a copy of the witness statement or affidavit in support;

(b) by an officer of the court leaving the documents mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), or sending them to him, at the premises;

(c) in accordance with CPR rule 6.4(2); or

(d) in such other manner as the court may direct.

(2) Where any person not named as a respondent is in occupation of the land, the claim form shall be served (whether or not it is also required to be served in accordance with paragraph (1)), unless the court otherwise directs, by—

(a) affixing a copy of each of the documents mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) to the main door or other conspicuous part of the premises and, if practicable, inserting through the letterbox at the premises a copy of those documents enclosed in a sealed transparent envelope addressed to “the occupiers”, or

(b) placing stakes in the ground at conspicuous parts of the occupied land, to each of which shall be affixed a sealed transparent envelope addressed to “the occupiers” and containing a copy of each of the documents mentioned in paragraph (1)(a).