Guides › Faulty Goods and Refunds › What Are My Statutory Rights?
What Are My Statutory Rights?
Your statutory rights are the legal rights you get when you buy from a business, mainly under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. Businesses cannot remove these rights in their terms, and guarantees or warranties are extra. You can claim for up to 6 years (5 in Scotland).
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Your Statutory Rights
GOV.UK
A business must offer a full refund if an item is faulty, not as described or does not do what it is supposed to. Items returned within 6 months must be repaired or replaced unless the seller can prove they were not faulty; after 6 months the seller can ask you to prove the fault. Customers have up to 6 years to make a claim (5 years in Scotland). source
Cannot Be Removed
A contract term is not binding on you to the extent that it would exclude or restrict the trader's liability for the goods being of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. source
Guarantees and Warranties
Citizens Advice
Warranties and guarantees add to your legal rights. You have legal rights for up to 6 years (5 years in Scotland) if there is a fault, and it is usually easier to use them in the first 6 months. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 6 monthsFault presumed from the startSeller must prove otherwise
- 6 yearsTime to claim5 years in Scotland
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check whether you bought from a business or a private seller.
Step 2 of 5
Describe the fault and when you noticed it.
Step 3 of 5
Write to the seller, not the manufacturer, about your rights.
Step 4 of 5
Say whether you want a refund, repair or replacement.
Step 5 of 5
Use a guarantee as well if it helps.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
The Seller
Your rights are against the seller.
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
Free advice; can pass cases to Trading Standards.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Statutory rights do not cover faults you were told about before buying, or damage you caused.
Want Help?
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: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds Checked 13 October 2026
- legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/section/31 Checked 13 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/claim-using-a-warranty-or-guarantee Checked 13 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue Checked 8 October 2026