OpenLegislation

Limitation Act 1980

1980 c. 58 · Enacted 13 November 1980 · Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Not fully up to date. 3 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 29 June 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 33AcontinuedNorthern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 Sch. 10 para. 2(11)(a)
s. 14(1B)word insertedAutomated Vehicles Act 2024 Sch. 2 para. 3
ActappliedDigital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 s. 234(4)
An Act to consolidate the Limitation Acts 1939 to 1980.[13th November 1980]C1C2C3I1C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12

Contents

  1. Part I: Ordinary Time Limits for Different Classes of Action
  2. Time limits under Part I subject to extension or exclusion under Part II
  3. 1Time limits under Part I subject to extension or exclusion under Part II.
  4. Actions founded on tort
  5. 2Time limit for actions founded on tort.
  6. 3Time limit in case of successive conversions and extinction of title of owner of converted goods.
  7. 4Special time limit in case of theft.
  8. 4ATime limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
  9. 4BSpecial time limit for certain actions in respect of damage or defects in relation to buildings
  10. Actions founded on simple contract
  11. 5Time limit for actions founded on simple contract.
  12. 5AAdditional time limit for actions for damages for late payment of insurance claims
  13. 6Special time limit for actions in respect of certain loans.
  14. 7Time limit for actions to enforce certain awards.
  15. General rule for actions on a specialty
  16. 8Time limit for actions on a specialty.
  17. Actions for sums recoverable by statute
  18. 9Time limit for actions for sums recoverable by statute.
  19. 10Special time limit for claiming contribution.
  20. 10ASpecial time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles.
  21. 10BSpecial time limit for actions relating to construction products
  22. Actions in respect of wrongs causing personal injuries or death etc
  23. 11Special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries.
  24. 11ZAActions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
  25. 11ZBDismissal of actions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
  26. 11AActions in respect of defective products.
  27. 11BActions against insurers etc of automated vehicles.
  28. 12Special time limit for actions under Fatal Accidents legislation.
  29. 13Operation of time limit under section 12 in relation to different dependants.
  30. 14Definition of date of knowledge for purposes of sections 11 to 12.
  31. Actions in respect of latent damage not involving personal injuries
  32. 14ASpecial time limit for negligence actions where facts relevant to cause of action are not known at date of accrual.
  33. 14BOverriding time limit for negligence actions not involving personal injuries.
  34. Actions to recover land and rent
  35. 15Time limit for actions to recover land.
  36. 16Time limit for redemption actions.
  37. 17Extinction of title to land after expiration of time limit.
  38. 18Settled land and land held on trust.
  39. 19Time limit for actions to recover rent.
  40. Commonhold
  41. 19AActions for breach of commonhold duty
  42. Actions to recover money secured by a mortgage or charge or to recover proceeds of the sale of land
  43. 20Time limit for actions to recover money secured by a mortgage or charge or to recover proceeds of the sale of land.
  44. Actions in respect of trust property or the personal estate of deceased persons
  45. 21Time limit for actions in respect of trust property.
  46. 22Time limit for actions claiming personal estate of a deceased person.
  47. Actions for an account
  48. 23Time limit in respect of actions for an account.
  49. Miscellaneous and supplemental
  50. 24Time limit for actions to enforce judgments.
  51. 25Time limit for actions to enforce advowsons and extinction of title to advowsons.
  52. 26Administration to date back to death.
  53. 27Cure of defective disentailing assurance.
  54. 27AActions for recovery of property obtained through unlawful conduct etc.
  55. 27ABActions to prohibit dealing with property subject to an external request
  56. 27BActions for recovery of property for purposes of an external order
  57. 27CActions for exploitation proceeds orders
  58. 27DActions relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles
  59. Part II: Extension or Exclusion of Ordinary Time Limits
  60. Disability
  61. 28Extension of limitation period in case of disability.
  62. 28AExtension for cases where the limitation period is the period under section 14A(4)(b).
  63. Acknowledgment and part payment
  64. 29Fresh accrual of action on acknowledgment or part payment.
  65. 30Formal provisions as to acknowledgments and part payments.
  66. 31Effect of acknowledgment or part payment on persons other than the maker or recipient.
  67. Fraud, concealment and mistake
  68. 32Postponement of limitation period in case of fraud, concealment or mistake.
  69. Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood
  70. 32ADiscretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
  71. Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death
  72. 33Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death.
  73. Mediation in certain cross-border disputes
  74. 33AExtension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes Repealed
  75. Alternative Dispute Resolution in certain cross border or domestic contractual disputes
  76. 33BExtension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain consumer contract disputes
  77. Part III: Miscellaneous and General
  78. 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  79. 35New claims in pending actions: rules of court.
  80. 36Equitable jurisdiction and remedies.
  81. 37Application to the Crown and the Duke of Cornwall.
  82. 38Interpretation.
  83. 39Saving for other limitation enactments.
  84. 40Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
  85. 41Short title, commencement and extent.
  86. Schedule 1: Provisions with Respect to Actions to Recover Land
  87. Part I: Accrual of Rights of Action to Recover Land
  88. Accrual of right of action in case of present interests in land
  89. 1Paragraph 1
  90. 2Paragraph 2
  91. 3Paragraph 3
  92. Accrual of right of action in case of future interests
  93. 4Paragraph 4
  94. 5Paragraph 5
  95. 6Paragraph 6
  96. Accrual of right of action in case of forfeiture or breach of condition
  97. 7Paragraph 7
  98. Right of action not to accrue or continue unless there is adverse possession
  99. 8Paragraph 8
  100. Possession of beneficiary not adverse to others interested in settled land or land held on trust for sale
  101. 9Paragraph 9
  102. Part II: Modification of Section 15 where Crown or Certain Corporations Sole are involved
  103. 10Paragraph 10
  104. 11Paragraph 11
  105. 12Paragraph 12
  106. 13Paragraph 13
  107. Schedule 2: Transitional Provisions
  108. 1Paragraph 1
  109. 2Paragraph 2
  110. 3Paragraph 3
  111. 4Paragraph 4
  112. 5Paragraph 5
  113. 6Paragraph 6
  114. 7Paragraph 7
  115. 8Paragraph 8
  116. 9Paragraph 9
  117. Schedule 3: Consequential Amendments
  118. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  119. 2Paragraph 2
  120. 3Paragraph 3
  121. 4Paragraph 4
  122. 5Paragraph 5
  123. 6Paragraph 6
  124. 7Paragraph 7
  125. 8Paragraph 8
  126. 9Paragraph 9
  127. 10Paragraph 10
  128. 11Paragraph 11
  129. 12Paragraph 12
  130. Schedule 4: Enactments Repealed