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UK Law Reference
Limitation Act 1980

Limitation Act 1980 — full text by section

Consolidated text as published on legislation.gov.uk, snapshot 2026-08-24. Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk

62 sections. Default extent: E+W+N.I..

  1. s.1Time limits under Part I subject to extension or exclusion under Part II.
  2. s.2Time limit for actions founded on tort.
  3. s.3Time limit in case of successive conversions and extinction of title of owner of converted goods.
  4. s.4Special time limit in case of theft.(E+W)
  5. s.4ATime limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.(E+W)
  6. s.4BSpecial time limit for certain actions in respect of damage or defects in relation to buildings
  7. s.5Time limit for actions founded on simple contract.
  8. s.5AAdditional time limit for actions for damages for late payment of insurance claims
  9. s.6Special time limit for actions in respect of certain loans.
  10. s.7Time limit for actions to enforce certain awards.
  11. s.8Time limit for actions on a specialty.
  12. s.9Time limit for actions for sums recoverable by statute.
  13. s.10Special time limit for claiming contribution.(E+W)
  14. s.10ASpecial time limit for actions by insurers etc in respect of automated vehicles.
  15. s.10BSpecial time limit for actions relating to construction products
  16. s.11Special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries.(E+W)
  17. s.11ZAActions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
  18. s.11ZBDismissal of actions in respect of personal injuries attributable to child sexual abuse
  19. s.11AActions in respect of defective products.
  20. s.11BActions against insurers etc of automated vehicles.
  21. s.12Special time limit for actions under Fatal Accidents legislation.(E+W)
  22. s.13Operation of time limit under section 12 in relation to different dependants.
  23. s.14Definition of date of knowledge for purposes of sections 11 to 12.
  24. s.14ASpecial time limit for negligence actions where facts relevant to cause of action are not known at date of accrual.
  25. s.14BOverriding time limit for negligence actions not involving personal injuries.
  26. s.15Time limit for actions to recover land.
  27. s.16Time limit for redemption actions.
  28. s.17Extinction of title to land after expiration of time limit.(E+W)
  29. s.18Settled land and land held on trust.(E+W)
  30. s.19Time limit for actions to recover rent.(E+W)
  31. s.19AActions for breach of commonhold duty
  32. s.20Time limit for actions to recover money secured by a mortgage or charge or to recover proceeds of the sale of land.
  33. s.21Time limit for actions in respect of trust property.
  34. s.22Time limit for actions claiming personal estate of a deceased person.
  35. s.23Time limit in respect of actions for an account.
  36. s.24Time limit for actions to enforce judgments.
  37. s.25Time limit for actions to enforce advowsons and extinction of title to advowsons.
  38. s.26Administration to date back to death.
  39. s.27Cure of defective disentailing assurance.
  40. s.27AActions for recovery of property obtained through unlawful conduct etc.(E+W)
  41. s.27ABActions to prohibit dealing with property subject to an external request
  42. s.27BActions for recovery of property for purposes of an external order(E+W)
  43. s.27CActions for exploitation proceeds orders
  44. s.27DActions relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles
  45. s.28Extension of limitation period in case of disability.(E+W)
  46. s.28AExtension for cases where the limitation period is the period under section 14A(4)(b).
  47. s.29Fresh accrual of action on acknowledgment or part payment.
  48. s.30Formal provisions as to acknowledgments and part payments.
  49. s.31Effect of acknowledgment or part payment on persons other than the maker or recipient.
  50. s.32Postponement of limitation period in case of fraud, concealment or mistake.
  51. s.32ADiscretionary exclusion of time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood.(E+W)
  52. s.33Discretionary exclusion of time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries or death.(E+W)
  53. s.33AExtension of time limits because of mediation in certain cross-border disputes(E+W)
  54. s.33BExtension of time limits because of alternative dispute resolution in certain consumer contract disputes(E+W)
  55. s.34(no heading)
    Omitted
    (E+W)
  56. s.35New claims in pending actions: rules of court.(E+W)
  57. s.36Equitable jurisdiction and remedies.(E+W)
  58. s.37Application to the Crown and the Duke of Cornwall.
  59. s.38Interpretation.(E+W)
  60. s.39Saving for other limitation enactments.
  61. s.40Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
  62. s.41Short title, commencement and extent.