This legislation came into force on 1 October 2008 and may affect your business practice.

These regulations replace the current Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987, which provide consumers with a seven-day cooling off period where contracts are entered into following an unsolicited visit from a trader. If you currently form contracts during unsolicited visits to consumers or a contract for something you weren’t originally called in to discuss by the customer you should already be providing them with notices of their rights to cancel.

However, the new Regulations extend consumers’ rights by providing the right to cancel a contract for goods or services made during a visit by a trader, whether unsolicited or solicited. The visit may be to the consumer’s home, place of work, the home of another person, or on an excursion organised by the trader away from his business premises. This right to cancel can be exercised during a cooling-off period of 7 calendar days from receipt of a Notice of the Right to Cancel from the trader.

The regulations apply to contracts where the contract price is £35 or more. This includes contracts for the construction of extensions, patios, conservatories and driveways where goods are incorporated in immovable property, and also repairs to immovable property.