Busy HDR teams lose thousands each month on interim costs because the N260 arrives late, the narrative is thin, or the ask is under-pitched. This guide gives you a plug-and-play process for interim application costs—from drafting a winning schedule of costs to summary assessment at the hearing. We’re costs drafting specialists (not costs lawyers). We don’t act for lay clients or provide advocacy—we prepare, optimise and arm your team so you get paid.
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• Serve your N260 (statement/schedule of costs) at least 24 hours before the hearing.
• Use clear narratives linking each time entry to the application issues.
• Ask for summary assessment today; only accept “reserved” if that’s tactical.
• Push indemnity basis where there’s unreasonable conduct; seek wasted costs when the conduct is by legal representatives.
• After the order, chase payment with a short timetable and interest wording. If not summarily assessed, seek costs of the application to be subject to detailed assessment.
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• Access/injunction applications (gaining entry for surveys/works)
• Disclosure/inspection (records, repair logs, damp reports)
• Relief from sanctions / extensions of time
• Case management skirmishes (amendments, expert issues, adjournments)
• Non-compliance fallout (unless orders, debarring, strike out attempts)
Each scenario is fertile ground for a costs order at the hearing if you’re ready.
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Primary keyword targets: N260 statement of costs, interim application costs, schedule of costs, summary assessment.
1) Header & compliance
• Case title, court, hearing date, application type
• Party (receiving) + representative details
• Statement wording confirming accuracy & VAT status
2) Hourly rates (GHR-aligned)
• Grade A–D with justification (complexity, urgency, seniority)
• State location band; if uplifted, say why (experience/complexity)
3) Time by phase (bullet entries, not blocks)
• Preparation: application draft, evidence, exhibits
• Correspondence: opponent/court/admin
• Advocacy prep: brief to counsel/notes
• Hearing attendance: (solicitor/counsel), time + waiting
• Post-order: sealing, circulation, enforcement prep
Tip: Tie every line to the application issues. “0.3h – review disrepair logs re access refusals; amend witness statement §§12–18 (necessity/proportionality).”
4) Disbursements
• Counsel’s fee (attach fee note or explain basis)
• Process server, court fee, travel (receipts or reasonable estimates)
• Expert short notes (where genuinely for the application)
5) Maths & VAT
• Subtotals by phase • total profit costs • total disbursements • VAT • grand total
• Confirm client VAT status (don’t charge VAT if the client can recover it)
6) Order sought (on the face of the N260)
• “Costs of the application to the Claimant summarily assessed in the sum of £X, payable within 14 days, failing which interest at judgment rate.”
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• Serve/file the N260 ≥24 hours pre-hearing (earlier if directed).
• For remote hearings, email the court (copy opponent) with PDF N260 + fee note; include page-numbered bundle refs.
• If you can’t serve in time, ask the court’s permission to rely on a late schedule and explain prejudice if refused.
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Default ask:
• “Costs of the application to the [party], summarily assessed today.”
• Basis: standard (or indemnity if conduct unreasonable).
• Payment within 14 days + interest thereafter.
• Permission for a transcript if you anticipate enforcement shenanigans.
When to push for indemnity:
• Breach of an order without explanation; last-minute capitulation; abuse of process; non-disclosure causing the hearing. Mention the conduct succinctly and point to the time wasted entries in your N260.
If the judge won’t assess today:
• Seek: “Costs in the case or costs to be subject to detailed assessment” with a direction that the paying party meet assessed/agreED costs within 14 days of assessment/Agreement.
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Standard basis (summary assessed):
The [Defendant/Claimant] shall pay the [Claimant/Defendant]’s costs of the application, summarily assessed in the sum of £[amount], payable within 14 days, thereafter to carry interest at the judgment rate.
Indemnity basis (summary assessed):
The [Defendant/Claimant] shall pay the [Claimant/Defendant]’s costs of the application on the indemnity basis, summarily assessed in the sum of £[amount], payable within 14 days, with interest at the judgment rate thereafter.
Reserved (only if strategic):
The costs of the application are reserved to the trial judge, liberty to apply.
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• Late N260 (judge declines summary assessment)
• Generic narratives (“consider correspondence” x 10) → invite % cuts
• Wrong hourly rates (no GHR anchor or locality stated)
• Disbursements without proof (no fee note / receipt)
• Including merits work (keep it to application-related time only)
• Arithmetic/VAT errors (the quickest way to get slashed)
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• Vulnerability / access complications → necessity for urgent applications
• Landlord conduct (missed appointments, non-compliance with orders) → basis for indemnity or at least higher allowance
• Surveyor interactions (abortive attends, re-inspection loops) → explain in the narrative and exhibit timelines to your witness statement
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• Send sealed order + N260 and short chaser with a 14-day diary entry.
• If payment missed, send Letter Before Enforcement—then consider costs-only steps or folding it into end-of-case DA.
• Keep a central log of interim costs receipts vs write-offs—great leverage at the final costs stage.
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We’re not costs lawyers and don’t act for lay clients. We draft and optimise:
• N260 statements / schedules of costs (interim)
• Hearing bundles: costs tab, fee notes, chronology
• Order wording (standard/indemnity)
• Follow-up packs (payment chasers, interest calc, enforcement prep)
Outcome: cleaner schedules • more summary assessments • fewer “no orders” • money in faster.
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Reply “N260” or email info@dmdcosts.co.uk and we’ll send:
• N260 (interim) Word template
• Order-wording crib sheet
• 14-day payment chaser
DMD Costs — Maximise Recovery. Minimise Delay.