The Sale of Goods Act 1979 consolidated and modernised English law governing the sale and purchase of goods, replacing and updating the earlier 1893 Act. While many consumer-related provisions have since been superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the 1979 Act continues to apply primarily to business-to-business (B2B) transactions and private (non-consumer) sales.
This Act regulates contracts involving the transfer of ownership in goods from seller to buyer, outlining key rights, duties, and remedies. It introduced clearer protections and aligned the law with contemporary commercial practices.
Understanding the 1979 Act remains crucial for businesses to clearly define their rights and obligations, promoting fair trade and reducing disputes in commercial transactions.
A new car suffered catastrophic engine failure after three weeks because of a latent manufacturing defect. The court held that the buyer had kept it beyond a reasonable time and therefore lost the right to reject, limiting him to damages; the strict approach was later statutorily reformed.
Farmers ordered cabbage seed but received seed that produced unmarketable plants without hearts due to the supplier's negligence. The seed merchants sought to rely on a limitation clause restricting liability to refunding the purchase price. The Court of Appeal held the clause did not protect against negligence and was unreasonable under statute.
An art dealer sold a painting attributed to Gabriele Münter to another dealer for £6,000, but it was later discovered to be a forgery. The buyer claimed breach of the implied condition under s.13(1) of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (sale by description). The Court of Appeal held there was no sale by description as the buyer had not relied on the seller's attribution but on his own judgment.
A company purchased a car through a conditional sale agreement. The car's roof leaked badly and was unfit for purpose. The Court of Appeal held that the company was 'dealing as consumer' under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 despite being a business, because purchasing vehicles was not integral to or regular in its freight forwarding business.
September 3, 2026
National Case Law Archive
September 3, 2026
National Case Law Archive
September 3, 2026
National Case Law Archive