Successful County Court Judgment Enforcement: Charging Orders Secured Against Defendant’s Properties
Phoenix Legal Solicitors recently achieved a successful outcome for our client through swift and decisive enforcement action following non-payment of a County Court Judgment (CCJ).
This case highlights the importance of acting promptly when a judgment debtor fails to pay, and how effective enforcement action can lead to the recovery of sums awarded by the court.
Background to the Claim
Phoenix Legal Solicitors were instructed by our client, Mr C, to pursue a housing disrepair claim against his private landlord. Following court proceedings, the claim was successful. The court found in favour of Mr C and awarded judgment in the sum of £22,251.67, payable by the Defendant.
Defendant’s Failure to Pay
Despite the court’s order, the Defendant failed to make payment within the required timeframe. As is often the case, obtaining judgment was only part of the process – enforcement action was necessary to ensure our client received the compensation awarded to him.
Recognising the risk of further delay, Phoenix Legal Solicitors took immediate steps to enforce the judgment.
Immediate Enforcement Action
Our team moved swiftly to secure the judgment debt by applying for charging orders over two residential properties owned by the Defendant.
A charging order places a legal charge over a property, securing the debt in a similar way to a mortgage and preventing the property from being sold or refinanced without the judgment being addressed.
Defendant’s Objection and Court Decision
The Defendant objected to one of the charging orders and sought to prevent it from being made final. Phoenix Legal Solicitors robustly defended the application, setting out clear legal arguments as to why the charging order was both appropriate and proportionate.
The court agreed with our position and permitted the charging order to be made final, securing our client’s judgment debt against the Defendant’s property.
Settlement Reached
Following the successful enforcement action, our team entered into negotiations with the Defendant. As a result of the pressure created by the charging orders, the Defendant agreed to settle the matter.
In October 2025, a settlement was reached in the total sum of £24,410.59, reflecting the judgment debt together with recoverable costs and accrued interest.
The Importance of Prompt Enforcement
This case demonstrates that obtaining a court judgment does not always result in immediate payment. However, with the right legal strategy and timely enforcement action, it is often possible to secure recovery of the debt.
By acting quickly and decisively, our debt recovery team were able to protect our client’s position, overcome objections from the Defendant, and ultimately achieve a successful financial outcome.
How Phoenix Legal Solicitors Can Help
Phoenix Legal Solicitors regularly advises clients on enforcing unpaid CCJs and recovering money owed to them.
Our team can assist with:
We are also able to assist our clients with Housing Disrepair Claims and General Civil Litigation.
If you have obtained a County Court Judgment and the other party has failed to pay, contact Phoenix Legal Solicitors today to discuss the enforcement options available to you.
0151 306 3694 Online enquiry