GovWire

The Law Commission published a draft Bill that would introduce new rules into the Consumer Rights Act 2015 about the transfer of ownership under contracts for the sale of goods between a trader and a consumer.

The final draft Bill would introduce new rules into the Consumer Rights Act 2015 around the transfer of ownership under contracts for the sale of goods between a trader and a consumer. The changes include:

• New rules: Different rules would apply, depending on the type of good in question. For example, for a good bought in a physical store, the contract is made when the good is purchased. For a generic item bought online, there are a range of points which could trigger the contract of sale.
• Modernised language: Consumer focused language that is less likely to be misinterpreted would be included. For example, the new rules refer to trader and consumer (rather than buyer and seller).
• Mandatory rules: Once implemented, the rules in the draft Bill would become mandatory, nullifying the effect of any contract where ownership of the goods is transferred over at a later point in the process.

Find out more on the Law Commission website.