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UK Act of Parliament
1979
United Kingdom
Sale of Goods Act 1979
At a glance
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Trader 5
- Any Person 1
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
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Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Contracts to Which Act Applies
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — Formation of the Contract
How contract of sale is made.
- Use flexible formats to create valid sales contracts Trader
Browse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Contract of sale.
Capacity to buy and sell.
Existing or future goods.
Goods which have perished.
Goods perishing before sale but after agreement to sell.
Ascertainment of price.
Agreement to sell at valuation.
Stipulations about time.
When condition to be treated as warranty.
Implied terms about title, etc.
Sale by description.
Implied terms about quality or fitness.
Sale by sample.
Modification of remedies for breach of condition in non-consumer cases.
Remedies for breach of contract as respects Scotland.
Part III — Effects of the Contract
Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Goods must be ascertained.
Property passes when intended to pass.
Rules for ascertaining intention.
Reservation of right of disposal.
Passing of risk.
Undivided shares in goods forming part of a bulk.
Deemed consent by co-owner to dealings in bulk goods.
Sale by person not the owner.
Market overt.
Sale under voidable title.
Seller in possession after sale.
Buyer in possession after sale.
Supplementary to sections 24 and 25.
Part IV — Performance of the Contract
Duties of seller and buyer.
- Deliver goods and accept payment according to the contract Trader
Payment and delivery are concurrent conditions.
- Exchange goods and payment simultaneously Trader
Buyer’s right of examining the goods.
- Allow the buyer to examine goods on delivery Any Person
Buyer’s liability for not taking delivery of goods.
- Accept delivery of goods and pay for storage costs if delayed Trader
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Rules about delivery.
Delivery of wrong quantity.
Instalment deliveries.
Delivery to carrier.
Risk where goods are delivered at distant place.
Acceptance.
Right of partial rejection.
Buyer not bound to return rejected goods.
Part 5A — ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF BUYER IN CONSUMER CASES
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Introductory
Repair or replacement of the goods
Reduction of purchase price or rescission of contract
Relation to other remedies etc.
Powers of the court
Conformity with the contract
Part V — Rights of Unpaid Seller Against the Goods
How stoppage in transit is effected.
- Exercise stoppage in transit by taking possession or giving notice Trader
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Unpaid seller defined.
Unpaid seller’s rights.
Attachment by seller in Scotland.
Seller’s lien.
Part delivery.
Termination of lien.
Right of stoppage in transit.
Duration of transit.
Effect of sub-sale etc. by buyer.
Rescission: and re-sale by seller.
Part VI — Actions for Breach of the Contract
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Action for price.
Damages for non-acceptance.
Damages for non-delivery.
Specific performance.
Remedy for breach of warranty.
Measure of damages as respects Scotland.
Interest, etc.
Part VII — Supplementary
Browse 10 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Exclusion of implied terms.
Conflict of laws.
Auction sales.
Payment into court in Scotland.
Reasonable time a question of fact.
Rights etc. enforceable by action.
Interpretation.
Savings: rules of law etc.
Consequential amendments, repeals and savings.
Short title and commencement.
Schedules
Browse 46 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Repeals
Savings
Modification of Act for Certain Contracts
(1) This Schedule modifies this Act as it applies to...
In relation to a contract made before 22 April 1967...
In relation to a contract made on or after 18...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973...
(1) In relation to a contract made on or after...
In relation to a contract made on or after 18...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973...
In relation to a contract made before 22 April 1967...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973,...
In relation to a contract made on or after 18...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973...
In relation to a contract made before 18 May 1973,...
In relation to a contract under which goods were sold...
In relation to a contract under which a person buys...
Consequential Amendments
In section 54(1) of the Hire-Purchase (Scotland) Act 1965 for...
In section 20 of the Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966—...
In section 54 of the Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966...
In section 62(5) of the Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966...
In section 65(1) of the Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966...
For section 1(4) of the Uniform Laws on International Sales...
In section 14(1) of the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms)...
For the definition of “consumer sale” in section 15(1) of...
In section 189(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, in...
In section 6 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977—...
In section 2(5)(c) of the Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act...
In section 14 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977,...
In section 20(1)(a) and (2)(a) of the Unfair Contract Terms...
In section 25(1) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977,...
In section 2(5)(c) of the Frustrated Contracts Act (Northern Ireland)...
In section 27(5) of the Hire-Purchase Act 1964 (as originally...
In section 20 of the Hire-Purchase Act 1965—
In section 54 of the Hire-Purchase At 1965 for “section...
In section 58(1) of the Hire-Purchase Act 1965 for “the...
In section 20 of the Hire-Purchase (Scotland) Act 1965 for...
In section 50 of the Hire-Purchase (Scotland) Act 1965 for...
In this Schedule references to the 1893 Act are to...
An order under section 14(8) or 25(4) above may make...
Where an offence was committed in relation to goods before...
The repeal by this Act of provisions of the 1893...
The repeal by this Act of section 60 of and...
In so far as the 1893 Act applied (immediately before...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Christie & Co (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Rightbiz (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- BusinessesForSale.com (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Daltons Business (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
HMRC
PrimaryHM Revenue & Customs
Tax collection, customs duties, national insurance, tax credits, and enforcement of the National Minimum Wage. Regulates all UK businesses for tax compliance …
Competition and Markets Authority
Promotes competitive markets and tackles unfair behaviour. Investigates mergers, enforces competition law, and has specific digital markets powers. Digital Markets Unit (DMU) …
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Regulators
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