Limitation Act 1980: Sets statutory limitation periods for different types of legal claims (6 years for simple contracts, 12 years for deeds). Key legislation for determining minimum retention periods for contracts.
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Regulates the storage and processing of personal data, requiring data minimization and storage limitation principles to be followed when retaining contracts containing personal information.
Companies Act 2006: Establishes requirements for maintaining company records and statutory obligations for document retention, including specific requirements for certain corporate documents.
Value Added Tax Act 1994: Mandates requirements for keeping VAT records and invoices, typically requiring 6 years retention period for documents with financial implications.
Evidence Act 1995: Contains rules about admissibility of evidence and may influence format of retained documents, particularly important for electronic storage considerations.
Electronic Communications Act 2000: Governs legal status of electronic signatures, requirements for electronic document storage, and validity of electronic contracts.
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: Specifies requirements for financial services contracts and additional retention requirements for regulated entities.
Industry-Specific Regulations: Various regulations covering specific sectors including Construction Industry Scheme, financial services, healthcare sector, and public sector procurement rules.
Employment Rights Act 1996: Establishes retention requirements for employment contracts and related employment documentation.
Freedom of Information Act 2000: Applicable to public sector organizations, impacting retention and disclosure requirements for contractual documents.
