Consumer Rights Act 2022

General right to withhold payment: sales contract

32. (1) Subject to subsection (2), where the trader fails to comply with the obligation to deliver goods that are in conformity with the sales contract at the relevant time, the consumer shall have the right to withhold payment of any outstanding part of the price until the trader has fulfilled the trader’s obligation to deliver goods that are in conformity with the sales contract.

(2) The part of the price withheld by the consumer under subsection (1) shall be proportionate to the decrease in the value of the goods received by the consumer compared with the value that the goods would have if they were in conformity with the contract.

(3) The consumer shall exercise the right to withhold payment under subsection (1) by means of a statement to the trader expressing the consumer’s decision to withhold payment until the trader has fulfilled the trader’s obligation to deliver goods that are in conformity with the sales contract.