Rule 48 Costs consequences of acceptance of a Rule 45 Offer
Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where a Rule 45 Offer is accepted within the relevant period, the claimant is entitled to the relevant costs of the proceedings up to the date on which notice of acceptance of the Rule 45 Offer was served on the offeror.
Subject to paragraph (4), where a Rule 45 Offer is accepted after the expiry of the relevant period, unless the parties have agreed the liability for costs or the Tribunal otherwise directs—
the claimant is entitled to the relevant costs of the proceedings up to the date on which the relevant period expired; and
the offeree is liable for the offeror's relevant costs for the period from the date of expiry of the relevant period to the date on which notice of acceptance was served on the offeror.
The relevant costs for the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) are the costs related to the proceedings against the defendants making or accepting the Rule 45 Offer, except where rule 45(11)(a) applies when they are the costs of the proceedings against all defendants.
Where—
a Rule 45 Offer made less than 21 days before the start of the substantive hearing of the claim is accepted, or
subject to paragraph (5), a Rule 45 Offer which does not relate to the whole of the claim is accepted at any time,
the Tribunal shall make an order as to costs unless the parties have agreed the liability for costs.
Where—
a defendant's Rule 45 Offer relates to part only of the claim; and
at the time of serving notice of acceptance within the relevant period the claimant abandons the balance of the claim,
the claimant is only entitled to the costs of such part of the claim unless the Tribunal otherwise directs.