HM Courts & Tribunals Service guidance, updated on 13 July 2026, gives £795 as the fee for a standard full certificate to register a light obstruction notice, which affects applicants and neighbouring building owners.
Key facts
- Who: Anyone applying to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) for a certificate to register a light obstruction notice, and owners of buildings that may be affected by one.
- From: Guidance updated 13 July 2026
- Source: Apply for a certificate to register a light obstruction notice (HM Courts & Tribunals Service guidance)
The guidance, updated on 13 July 2026, gives the fee for a standard full certificate as £795. If an applicant needs a temporary certificate, it gives the fee, including the temporary and full certificates, as £781.
A light obstruction notice relates to a "right of light". A building that has received daylight across a neighbour's land for 20 years or more without obstruction may acquire that right, which lets its owner prevent the neighbour reducing the light. Under the Rights of Light Act 1959, someone who wants to build can register a "notional structure" in the local council's land charges register. This is an application for the right to erect a building that may obstruct the light if built.
To register a notice, the applicant applies to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) for a certificate. The tribunal determines what steps the applicant must take to inform interested parties about the application. It issues a certificate allowing registration if satisfied that adequate publicity of the application has been made.
An applicant must send the tribunal Form 1 (T383), Form A (T384), an application plan of the land and buildings, and the fee. The plan must outline the land to be built on in red and any affected building in blue. Documents and fee can be sent by post or email, or filed through the HMCTS E-filing service. E-filing must be used where a legal representative applies for the applicant.
A temporary certificate is granted only if the building subject to the application will acquire rights to light soon. Temporary certificates are valid for 4 months from issue. The applicant must serve notice as instructed and give the tribunal evidence of it, so a full certificate can be registered before the temporary one expires.
The tribunal aims to issue a full certificate within 5 days of receiving satisfactory evidence that notice has been adequately served. The applicant must then register the notice with the local council.
What this means for applicants and neighbouring owners
Applicants should check the fee in the guidance before sending payment. Those applying by post can include a cheque made out to "HM Courts and Tribunals Service". Applicants who prefer to pay by bank transfer should say so in the application and will receive instructions. Applicants using the E-filing service can pay online.
Owners of buildings that may be affected should know that an applicant must tell them about the application. If a building has received unobstructed light for at least 20 years, its owner may have the right to object. The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) has no power to hear that objection; the challenge must be submitted to the local county court or the High Court. Anyone who is told about an application, or sees building works start that they believe will affect an existing right of light, should seek legal advice.
Sources
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Apply for a certificate to register a light obstruction notice, updated 13 July 2026