Housing disrepair litigation · Court-ready
Scott Schedules — the court-ready columnar format for disrepair claims
The standard County Court format for housing disrepair, dilapidations litigation, and building defect disputes. Item-by-item rows, party columns (claimant / defendant / agreed / judge), exportable to a court bundle directly.
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What's in the schedule
Standard 7-column Scott Schedule structure plus context wrap.
- ACase & instruction detailsClaim number, court, parties, hearing date, instructing solicitor, expert details, single-joint-expert status.
- BProperty & tenancyProperty address, tenancy start, tenancy type (assured shorthold, secure, etc.), landlord, repair covenant authority (s.11 LTA 1985, Homes (Fitness) Act 2018, contract).
- CSchedule itemsPer item (one row per defect): item ref, location, defect, claimant's allegation, claimant's costed remedy, defendant's response, agreed position (if any), judge's findings (left blank for court completion), priority and date noted.
- DQuantum summaryTotal cost claimed, total cost disputed, total agreed, contested balance for trial.
- EExpert's declarationCivil Procedure Rules Part 35 statement (duty to court overrides duty to instructing party), single-joint-expert protocol if applicable, qualifications, signed declaration, AI disclosure.
The 7 standard columns
A Scott Schedule's columns are conventional — if a court bundle deviates, it gets challenged.
Item
Defect & Location
Claimant's case
Claimant cost
Defendant's response
Defendant cost
Agreed / Court
1
Bedroom 2 ceiling: damp staining and mould; recurring leak from bathroom above.
Damp under s.11 LTA 1985 since reported June 2024. Repair required.
£1,840
Resolved by tenant misuse (poor ventilation). No s.11 breach.
£0
Trial
2
Kitchen window: rotten frame, single-glazed.
Disrepair under Homes (Fitness) Act 2018; replacement window with double glazing.
£780
Localised remedial only — splice repair, repaint.
£260
Agreed at £450
3
Bathroom extractor fan inoperable.
Excessive moisture; replace fan.
£190
Replacement fan supplied January 2025; not actioned by tenant.
£0
Agreed at £0
£2,810
£260
£450 agreed
The Court column stays blank in expert evidence; the trial judge fills it on the day or in judgment.
Scott Schedule FAQs
What is a Scott Schedule?
A Scott Schedule is a tabular court document used in disrepair, dilapidations, and building defect cases, listing each disputed item across columns for the claimant's case, defendant's response, agreed position, and the judge's findings. Named after Sir Vincent Scott, an Official Referee of the High Court who popularised the format in the 1920s. It's now standard practice in the County Court.
When is a Scott Schedule used vs a normal expert report?
Used when the matter has gone to litigation and the parties (and judge) need a side-by-side comparison of competing expert positions. Often required by the court directions order. A normal expert report under CPR Part 35 sits alongside the Scott Schedule as the supporting narrative.
Does it comply with CPR Part 35?
Yes. The expert's declaration in Section E carries the standard Part 35 statement: that the expert understands their duty is to the court rather than the instructing party, that the report contains a true and complete statement of opinion, and that all material instructions have been disclosed. Single-joint-expert protocol fields are also included.
How does it integrate with the Pre-Action Protocol?
A Scott Schedule typically follows from a Pre-Action Protocol exchange that hasn't resolved — the schedule consolidates the claim, defence, and any partial agreements into one document for the court. See the Housing Disrepair template for the upstream Pre-Action Protocol report.
Can the AI help draft Scott Schedule entries?
Yes — AI drafts the descriptive cells (item description, location, condition narrative) from your inspection notes. Strict-literal mode prevents fabrication. The AI does not draft cost figures or legal arguments — those carry expert-witness liability and stay surveyor-only.
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