If goods you bought turn out to be faulty, your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 are affected by certain time limits.

These time limits determine which remedies are available and who must prove the goods were faulty.

For the legal standards that goods must meet, see What Statutory Rights Apply to Goods?.

The 30-Day Short-Term Right to Reject

You normally have 30 days from delivery to exercise the Short-Term Right to Reject.

This allows you to reject faulty goods and receive a full refund.

The 30 days usually begin when:

  • The goods are delivered, and
  • You take ownership or possession.

If installation is part of the contract, the 30-day period may start after installation is completed.

Repairs Pause the 30-Day Clock

If you request a Repair or Replacement within the first 30 days, the time limit pauses while you wait.

If the goods are still faulty after repair or replacement, you will have:

  • At least 7 days to reject the goods, or
  • The remainder of the original 30-day period, whichever is longer.

The 6-Month Rule

If a fault appears within six months of delivery, the law assumes that the goods were faulty at the time of delivery.

This is known as the “six-month presumption”.

It means the trader must prove that the goods were not faulty at the time of delivery if they want to refuse a remedy.

What Happens After Six Months?

After six months, the burden shifts.

You may still have rights, but you may need to show that the fault was present when the goods were delivered.

Your remedies may include:

How Long Do Rights Last Overall?

In England and Wales, you can usually bring a claim for breach of contract within six years of delivery (five years in Scotland).

This does not mean goods must last six years. It means you have that long to bring a legal claim if there has been a breach.

Partial Rejection and Instalments

Time limits also apply where you are exercising Partial Rejection or dealing with instalment deliveries.

Which remedy is available depends on when the fault appeared and whether repair has already been attempted.

If the Trader Disputes the Fault

If the trader argues that the goods were not faulty at delivery:

  • Refer to the six-month presumption (if applicable)
  • Request evidence supporting their position.
  • Keep records of faults, reports, and correspondence.

If the dispute continues, you may need to:

Key Point

The first 30 days give you the strongest right to reject. Within the first six months, the law assumes the fault was present at delivery. After that, you may need to prove it.