Sold As Seen Contract Template for England and Wales

A Sold As Seen Contract gives a seller clearer protection when selling items with limited warranty obligations under the law of England and Wales. It records that the goods are sold in their current condition and that the purchaser takes on responsibility for faults that appear after purchase. You cannot remove every consumer protection, but a well-drafted agreement narrows your liability and sets honest expectations on both sides. If you are selling a vehicle, you may also want a car sold as is contract or a car sale receipt to sit alongside it.

What does 'sold as seen' actually mean?

'Sold as seen' (sometimes searched as 'seen as sold' or 'bought as seen') means the purchaser buys the item in the exact state it is in at the point of sale, having had the chance to view and inspect it first. The phrase signals that the seller is not offering a warranty on the item's condition. In England and Wales it does not, on its own, override statutory rights, so in a consumer sale the goods must still match their description and the seller must still have the right to sell them. The word 'seen' confirms the purchaser had the opportunity to look and check the item before agreeing.

Is 'sold as seen' legal in the UK?

Yes. Selling goods as seen is lawful in England and Wales, but what it covers depends on who the buyer is. In a private or business-to-business sale, an as-is term can shift responsibility for condition onto the purchaser once they have had a fair chance to inspect. In a business-to-consumer sale, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 still gives the buyer core protections that cannot be signed away, so 'sold as seen' narrows your liability rather than removing it. If an individual buys privately and a problem appears later, their main route back is usually to show the seller misdescribed the item or hid a known fault, rather than to rely on the as-is wording.

When do you need this document?

You need a Sold As Seen Contract when selling a used vehicle, second-hand furniture, electrical appliances, or any pre-owned item where you want to limit your responsibility for its condition. It suits private sellers who cannot offer a lengthy guarantee, and it is useful when the item has known faults or needs a repair or service that you have disclosed and want on record. It also helps when the buyer has been able to fully inspect the goods before agreeing to buy. Business sellers should take extra care, because consumer protection rules give stronger safeguards in business-to-consumer sales.

Does 'sold as seen' affect refund rights?

In a private sale between individuals, there is no automatic right to a refund once the deal is done. The buyer keeps the item in the state they agreed to, and 'sold as seen' confirms that. In a business-to-consumer sale it works differently: a consumer who believes the goods were misdescribed, were not fit for a purpose made known to the seller, or had a hidden fault that was not pointed out can still raise a complaint and may be entitled to a refund or repair under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. An as-is term does not switch those core consumer rights off. The safest position for any seller is to describe the item accurately before advertising it, so a buyer cannot later argue they were misled.

How do you make a sold as seen sale enforceable?

Describe the item precisely and inform the purchaser of any known faults in writing, so nothing important is left to memory. Name both parties in full with their addresses, set out the price and payment terms, and include an express statement that the sale is on a 'sold as seen' basis. Give the buyer the chance to inspect the goods and record that they did. Keep a signed copy each, since a written record is far stronger evidence than a verbal understanding if a question comes up later. If you are selling as a company, add your registered company name and contact details so the purchaser knows exactly who they are dealing with.

What can you not exclude, even sold as seen?

You cannot exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation under the Misrepresentation Act 1967, so an accurate description matters. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 applies a reasonableness test to exclusion clauses, especially in business sales. You cannot exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, and certain implied terms about title and description can still apply. In consumer sales, core Consumer Rights Act 2015 protections remain, though a fault clearly drawn to the buyer's attention before sale is not treated as a breach.

Can a buyer come back after a sold as seen sale?

In a private sale, a purchaser generally cannot return the item just because they changed their mind or found a fault they could have spotted on inspection. They may still have a claim if the seller gave a false description, hid a known problem, or never had the right to sell the goods. Honest disclosure and clear records are the best protection against a dispute after the deal is done. Reading the contract carefully and keeping evidence of what was agreed helps both sides avoid an argument later.

Selling a used car as seen. What to check

When you sell a car as seen, roadworthiness still applies: a vehicle sold for immediate use on public roads must be legal to drive, so note the MOT status and flag any fault that affects driving safety. Describe the car honestly in any advert, since a misleading advertisement can leave you open to a complaint even on an as-is basis. Advise the buyer to inspect and test drive the car, and record any known issues or outstanding repairs in the contract. Remind the buyer to arrange their own insurance before driving it away, and complete the change of registered keeper so the buyer can register the change with the DVLA by post or online. For the legal background and related paperwork, see the car sale agreement collection.

Requirements specific to England and Wales

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, goods must match their description even in a 'sold as seen' sale, and the seller must have the right to sell them. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 adds protections for consumer buyers, including satisfactory quality and fitness for purpose, which can be limited where a defect is specifically pointed out. Your contract should identify all parties, state the price and payment terms, and set out when title and risk pass to the buyer. For a used vehicle, note any change of registered keeper so the buyer can register the change with the DVLA. You can browse related documents in the car sale agreement collection.