Limitation Act 1980
1980 c. 58 · Enacted 13 November 1980 · Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
An Act to consolidate the Limitation Acts 1939 to 1980.
Annotations to the whole text
Modifications
- C1
Act extended by Water Act 1981 (c. 12, SIF 130), s. 6(4)
- C2
Act amended (1.5.1994) by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), s. 73(9)(c); S.I. 1994/1096, art.2(1)
Act amended (31.1.1997) by 1996 c. 23, s. 14(1) (with s. 81(2)); S.I. 1996/3146, art. 3
- C3
Act modified (E.W.) (1.12.1991) by Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56, SIF 130), ss. 209(4), 223(2) (with ss. 82(3), 186(1), 222(1), Sch. 14 para. 6)
Act applied with modifications by Water Resources Act 1991 (c. 57, SIF 130), s. 208(4) (with ss. 16(6), 179, 222(3), 224(1), 225(4), Sch. 22 para. 1, Sch. 23 para. 6)
Act modified (27.4.1997) by 1925 c. 21, s. 83(12) (as substituted (27.4.1997) by 1997 c. 2, s. 2 (with s. 5(5)))
- C4
Act applied (31.1.1997) by 1996 c. 23, s. 13 (with s. 81(2)); S.I. 1996/3146, art. 3
Act modified (13.10.2003) by Land Registration Act 2002 (c. 9), ss. 103, 134, 136(2), Sch. 8 para. 8, Sch. 12 para. 19(1) (with s. 129); S.I. 2003/1725, art. 2
- C5
Act: 2004 c. 12, s. 320 to be construed as one with this Act (22.7.2004) by virtue of The Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), s. 320
- C6
Act: for the words "Supreme Court Act 1981" wherever they occur there is substituted (prosp.) the words "Senior Courts Act 1981" by virtue of Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 1(2) [Editorial Note: this amendment will be carried through into the text of the Act at the same time as any other effects on the Act for the year in which the relevant commencement order (or first such order) is made]
- C7
Act modified (1.10.2010) by The Building Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2214), regs. 1, 32(3) (with reg. 9)
- C8
Act applied (with modifications) by S.I. 2008/1277, s. 27K(5) (as inserted (1.10.2014) by The Consumer Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/870), regs. 1(3), 3)
- C9
Act applied (with modifications) by 1998 c. 41, s. 47E(2)(a) (as inserted (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 8 para. 8(1) (with Sch. para. 8(2)); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(j))
- C10
Act applied (1.10.2015) by Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), ss. 46(8), 100(5); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(a) (with art. 6(1))
- C11
Act modified by 1988 c. 52, s. 12E (as inserted (10.3.2017) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 73(3), 115(7); S.I. 2017/273, art. 2(a))
- C12
Act modified (30.9.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), ss. 125(5), 147(3) (with s. 144, Sch. 19); S.I. 2022/48, reg. 5(a)
Commencement
- I1
Act wholly in force at 1. 5. 1981 see s. 41 (2)(3)
Contents
- Part I: Ordinary Time Limits for Different Classes of Action
- Time limits under Part I subject to extension or exclusion under Part II
- 1Time limits under Part I subject to extension or exclusion under Part II.
- Actions founded on tort
- 2Time limit for actions founded on tort.
- 3Time limit in case of successive conversions and extinction of title of owner of converted goods.
- 4Special time limit in case of theft.
- 4ATime limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
- 4BSpecial time limit for certain actions in respect of damage or defects in relation to buildings
- Actions founded on simple contract
- 5Time limit for actions founded on simple contract.
- 5AAdditional time limit for actions for damages for late payment of insurance claims
- 6Special time limit for actions in respect of certain loans.
- 7Time limit for actions to enforce certain awards.
- General rule for actions on a specialty
- 8Time limit for actions on a specialty.
- Actions for sums recoverable by statute
- 9Time limit for actions for sums recoverable by statute.
- 10Special time limit for claiming contribution.
- 10ASpecial time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles.
- 10BSpecial time limit for actions relating to construction products
- Actions in respect of wrongs causing personal injuries or death etc
- 11Special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries.
- 11ZAActions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
- 11ZBDismissal of actions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
- 11AActions in respect of defective products.
- 11BActions against insurers etc of automated vehicles.
- 12Special time limit for actions under Fatal Accidents legislation.
- 13Operation of time limit under section 12 in relation to different dependants.
- 14Definition of date of knowledge for purposes of sections 11 to 12.
- Actions in respect of latent damage not involving personal injuries
- 14ASpecial time limit for negligence actions where facts relevant to cause of action are not known at date of accrual.
- 14BOverriding time limit for negligence actions not involving personal injuries.
- Actions to recover land and rent
- 15Time limit for actions to recover land.
- 16Time limit for redemption actions.
- 17Extinction of title to land after expiration of time limit.
- 18Settled land and land held on trust.
- 19Time limit for actions to recover rent.
- Commonhold
- 19AActions for breach of commonhold duty
- Actions to recover money secured by a mortgage or charge or to recover proceeds of the sale of land
- 20Time limit for actions to recover money secured by a mortgage or charge or to recover proceeds of the sale of land.
- Actions in respect of trust property or the personal estate of deceased persons
- 21Time limit for actions in respect of trust property.
- 22Time limit for actions claiming personal estate of a deceased person.
- Actions for an account
- 23Time limit in respect of actions for an account.
- Miscellaneous and supplemental
- 24Time limit for actions to enforce judgments.
- 25Time limit for actions to enforce advowsons and extinction of title to advowsons.
- 26Administration to date back to death.
- 27Cure of defective disentailing assurance.
- 27AActions for recovery of property obtained through unlawful conduct etc.
- 27ABActions to prohibit dealing with property subject to an external request
- 27BActions for recovery of property for purposes of an external order
- 27CActions for exploitation proceeds orders
- 27DActions relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles
- Part II: Extension or Exclusion of Ordinary Time Limits
- Disability
- 28Extension of limitation period in case of disability.
- 28AExtension for cases where the limitation period is the period under section 14A(4)(b).
- Acknowledgment and part payment
- 29Fresh accrual of action on acknowledgment or part payment.
- 30Formal provisions as to acknowledgments and part payments.
- 31Effect of acknowledgment or part payment on persons other than the maker or recipient.
- Fraud, concealment and mistake
- 32Postponement of limitation period in case of fraud, concealment or mistake.
- Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood
- 32ADiscretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
- Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death
- 33Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death.
- Mediation in certain cross-border disputes
- 33AExtension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes Repealed
- Alternative Dispute Resolution in certain cross border or domestic contractual disputes
- 33BExtension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain consumer contract disputes
- Part III: Miscellaneous and General
- 34. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 35New claims in pending actions: rules of court.
- 36Equitable jurisdiction and remedies.
- 37Application to the Crown and the Duke of Cornwall.
- 38Interpretation.
- 39Saving for other limitation enactments.
- 40Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
- 41Short title, commencement and extent.
- Schedule 1: Provisions with Respect to Actions to Recover Land
- Part I: Accrual of Rights of Action to Recover Land
- Accrual of right of action in case of present interests in land
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- Accrual of right of action in case of future interests
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- Accrual of right of action in case of forfeiture or breach of condition
- 7Paragraph 7
- Right of action not to accrue or continue unless there is adverse possession
- 8Paragraph 8
- Possession of beneficiary not adverse to others interested in settled land or land held on trust for sale
- 9Paragraph 9
- Part II: Modification of Section 15 where Crown or Certain Corporations Sole are involved
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- 13Paragraph 13
- Schedule 2: Transitional Provisions
- 1Paragraph 1
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- Schedule 3: Consequential Amendments
- 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
- 2Paragraph 2
- 3Paragraph 3
- 4Paragraph 4
- 5Paragraph 5
- 6Paragraph 6
- 7Paragraph 7
- 8Paragraph 8
- 9Paragraph 9
- 10Paragraph 10
- 11Paragraph 11
- 12Paragraph 12
- Schedule 4Enactments Repealed