UK Act of Parliament 1980 United Kingdom

Limitation Act 1980

An Act to consolidate the Limitation Acts 1939 to 1980.

Enforcement
No single statutory enforcer
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Regulated

Procedural statute setting time limits for civil claims; applied by the courts. No business-facing regulator and no obligations imposed on businesses to comply with.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person2

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

Part 1

Ordinary Time Limits for Different Classes of Action

2 of 44 sections shown
s.019 Actions for breach of commonhold duty Regulated
  • Bring legal action for commonhold duty breaches within six yearsAny Person
s.025 Time limit for actions to enforce advowsons and extinction of title to advowsons. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Bring legal action to enforce a right of patronage within specified limitsAny Person
42 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.004 Time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
s.004 Special time limit for certain actions in respect of damage or defects in relation to buildings
s.005 Additional time limit for actions for damages for late payment of insurance claims
s.010 Special time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles.
s.010 Special time limit for actions relating to construction products
s.011 Actions in respect of defective products.
s.011 Actions against insurers etc of automated vehicles.
s.011 Actions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
s.011 Dismissal of actions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
s.014 Special time limit for negligence actions where facts relevant to cause of action are not known at date of accrual.
s.014 Overriding time limit for negligence actions not involving personal injuries.
s.027 Actions for recovery of property obtained through unlawful conduct etc.
s.027 Actions to prohibit dealing with property subject to an external request
s.027 Actions for recovery of property for purposes of an external order
s.027 Actions for exploitation proceeds orders
s.027 Actions relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles
Part 2

Extension or Exclusion of Ordinary Time Limits

0 of 10 sections shown
10 other sections in this Part — procedural and definitional
s.028 Extension for cases where the limitation period is the period under section 14A(4)(b).
s.032 Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.
s.033 Extension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes
s.033 Extension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain cross border or domestic contractual disputes
Part 3

Miscellaneous and General

0 of 8 sections shown
Schedules

Schedules

0 of 37 shown
37 other schedules
s.sch001 Where the person bringing an action to recover land, or...
s.sch001 Subject to paragraph 11 below, section 15(1) of this Act...
s.sch001 (1) An action to recover foreshore may be brought by...
s.sch001 Notwithstanding section 15(1) of this Act, where in the case...
s.sch001 Section 15(2) of this Act shall apply in any case...
s.sch001 Where any person brings an action to recover any land...
s.sch001 Where any person brings an action to recover land, being...
s.sch001 The right of action to recover any land shall, in...
s.sch001 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a tenancy from year...
s.sch001 (1) Where— (a) any person is in possession of land...
s.sch001 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a right of action...
s.sch001 (1) No right of action to recover land shall be...
s.sch001 Where any settled land or any land subject to a...
s.sch002 Nothing in this Act shall affect the operation of section...
s.sch002 The amendment made by section 14(1) of the Limitation Act...
s.sch002 It is hereby declared that a decision taken at any...
s.sch002 (1) In section 33(6) of this Act the reference to...
s.sch002 Notwithstanding anything in section 29(7) of this Act or in...
s.sch002 Section 28 of the Limitation Act 1939 (provisions as to...
s.sch002 Section 37(2)(c) of this Act shall be treated for the...
s.sch002 In relation to a lease granted before the coming into...
s.sch002 (1) Nothing in any provision of this Act shall—
s.sch003 In section 10 of the Animals Act 1971 (application of...
s.sch003 In section 2(4) of the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act...
s.sch003 In section 88(4) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974...
s.sch003 In section 21A of the Administration of Estates Act 1925...
s.sch003 In section 2(1) of the Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners)...
s.sch003 In section 3(4) of the Charitable Trusts (Validation) Act 1954...
s.sch003 In section 5(3) of the Carriage by Air Act 1961...
s.sch003 In section 7(2)(a) of the Carriage of Goods by Road...
s.sch003 In paragraph 7(6) of Schedule 3 to the Agriculture Act...
s.sch003 In paragraph 6(2) of Schedule 3 to the Mines and...
s.sch003 In section 25(5) of the Law of Property Act 1969...

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

4 more guides that reference this instrument

Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.