Guides › Home Improvements and Traders › Can I Cancel a Contract I Signed in a Shop?
Can I Cancel a Contract I Signed in a Shop?
The 14-day right to cancel covers contracts made at your home, by phone or online. If you agreed a contract at the trader's premises, such as a shop or showroom, whether you can cancel depends on whether a contract was made and the work has started, and on the trader's own terms.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
The Short Answer
14-Day Cancellation
If you arranged work at your home, by phone or online you generally have 14 days to cancel from the day after you agree the contract; you pay a proportionate amount for work started during the period only where you asked for it to start. source
Exceptions
Exceptions to the 14-day right include made-to-measure items and urgent repairs you ask for (for example emergency plumbing). If you agreed the work at the trader's premises, whether you can cancel depends on whether a contract has been made and the work has started. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 14 daysCancel an at-home, phone or online contract for building or decorating work14 days starting the day after the contract is made
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Check where you agreed the contract.
Step 2 of 4
Read the terms for any cancellation rights.
Step 3 of 4
Ask the trader in writing if you want to cancel.
Step 4 of 4
Get advice from Citizens Advice if unsure.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service (0808 223 1133)
Free advice, template letters and reporting to Trading Standards.
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If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 12 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.