Limitation Act 1980

The Limitation Act 1980 (c. 58) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom applicable only to England and Wales. It is a statute of limitations which provides timescales within which action may be taken (by issuing a claim form) for breaches of the law. For example, it provides that breaches of an ordinary contract are actionable for six years after the event^[1] whereas breaches of a deed are actionable for twelve years after the event.^[2] In most cases, after the expiry of the time periods specified in the act the remedies available for breaches are extinguished and no action may be taken in the courts in respect of those breaches.

Limitation Act 1980^[a]

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to consolidate the Limitation Acts 1939 to 1980.
Citation	1980 c. 58
Territorial extent	England and Wales[b]
Dates
Royal assent	13 November 1980
Commencement	1 May 1981[c]
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes	Limitation Act 1939 Limitation Act 1975
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended
Text of the Limitation Act 1980 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Summary of time limits

The ordinary time limits allowed by the act are set out below. These limits may, in some cases, be extended or altered. Most of the time limits run from the day after the accrual of action, which is "the earliest time at which an action could be brought".^[3] If the potential claimant was not at least 18 or did not have a sound mind at the time of the accrual of action, time will not run until he is at least 18 and has sound mind.^[4] Where there has been fraud or concealment, or the action is for relief from the consequences of a mistake, time will not run until the fraud, concealment or mistake is discovered or could with reasonable diligence be discovered.^[5]

Ordinarily applicable limitation periods for common types of claim

	Type of claim	General limitation period
Trusts	Fraudulent breach of trust	No limit[6]
	Recovery of trust property and breach of trust	6 years[7]
Land	Recovery of land	12 years[8]
	Recovery of money secured by a mortgage	12 years[9]
	Recovery of arrears of rent and consequential damages	6 years[10]
Contract	Speciality	12 years[2]
	Simple contract	6 years[1]
Statute	Sum recoverable by virtue of statute	6 years[11]
Tort and personal injury	Tort: general rule	6 years[12]
	Personal injury	3 years[13]
	Fatal Accidents Act 1976 claims	3 years[14]
	Consumer Protection Act 1987 claims for personal injury or property damage	3 years[15]
	Conversion of goods	6 years from first conversion
	Claims for personal injury, death or damage against ships or owners	2 years[16]
	Defamation and malicious falsehood	1 year[17]
Contribution	Contribution under the Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978	2 years[18]
	Contribution under the Maritime Conventions Act 1911	1 year[19]
	Human Rights Act 1998 claim against a public authority	1 year[20]
Unpaid criminal fine	His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service Magistrates' Court	N/A (No time limit)

Magistrates' court fine non-payment

In September 2016 His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) set up the "Historic Debt Project" to tackle long outstanding unpaid criminal fines and financial orders, from debtors who previously were difficult to trace, with the use of new intelligence and tracing tools. Outstanding debts of 10 years and longer are pursued by a dedicated team in the HMCTS National Compliance and Enforcement Service. Magistrates' Court fines, being a criminal matter, are not subject to the Limitation Act 1980 (neither can they be included in bankruptcy, an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or a debt relief order DRO).

Notes

1. Section 41(1).
2. Section 41(4).
3. Section 41(2).