Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Limitation period definition

What does Limitation period mean? The limitation period is the statutory time limit for commencing a civil claim; once expired, proceedings are time‑barred (statute‑barred) and a limitation defence is available. Periods are set by legislation: in England and Wales by the Limitation Act 1980, in Northern Ireland by the Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, in Scotland by the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and in Ireland by the Statute of Limitations 1957 (as amended, including 1991). Time usually runs from accrual of the cause of action, but may instead run from the claimant’s date of knowledge for latent damage or personal injury, and...

Section 14A Limitation Act 1980: latent damage in negligence—date of knowledge, constructive knowledge and the section 14B long-stop (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

This Practice Note reviews the alternative three-year limitation period in section 14A of the Limitation Act 1980 (LA 1980), which extends the timeframe for commencing a claim by reference to the claimant’s knowledge of the material facts

It identifies:

the circumstances in which the provision is engaged
the nature of the requisite knowledge
the principle that the claimant is fixed with constructive knowledge of specified matters

It also outlines the 15-year long-stop under LA 1980, s 14B for negligence actions that do not concern personal injuries. For detailed guidance on considerations relevant to construction disputes and building-defect matters, see: Defects in construction projects—overview. For wider guidance on LA 1980 and links to related practical materials, see: Limitation—overview

Background

The limitation period for an action founded on tort is six years from the date the cause of action accrues, pursuant to LA 1980, s 2. In negligence, the cause of action accrues when damage is first sustained, rather than when it is subsequently discovered by the claimant...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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