The Sale of Goods Act 1979

is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates English contract law and

UK commercial law in respect of goods that are sold and bought. The Sale of Goods Act

performs several functions. 

The Act lays down a small number of compulsory legal rules, but these restrictions are

minimal: the bulk of the Act is concerned with an array of presumptions and implied terms,

which aim to reflect the commercial expectations in the most commonly agreed sales

contracts. 

In the absence of contrary agreement these terms will govern a contract within the Act's

remit. The Act applies to contracts where ownership of goods is transferred or agreed to be

transferred for a monetary.

Imagine you are about to enter into a contract for the purchase of some goods.  

What might you be concerned about?

• You may want the goods delivered for a particular occasion or date

• Are the goods stolen, i.e. does the seller have a right to sell the goods?

• You would expect the goods to be the same type and quality as the description or any

sample

• The goods should be reasonable quality and suitable for their purpose