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Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, Section 2 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 04 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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(1)If—
(a)land has been possessed by any person, or by any person and his successors, for a continuous period of twenty years openly, peaceably and without any judicial interruption; and
(b) the possession was founded on, and followed the execution of, a deed (whether [F2 or not registered or recorded ] ) which is sufficient in respect of its terms to constitute in favour of that person a real right in that land, or in land of a description habile to include that land, then, as from the expiry of that period, the real right so far as relating to that land shall be exempt from challenge except on the ground that the deed is invalid ex facie or was forged.
(2)This section applies—
(a)to the real right of the lessee under a lease; and
(b)to any other real right in land, being a real right of a kind which, under the law in force immediately before the commencement of this Part of this Act, was sufficient to form a foundation for positive prescription without the deed constituting the title to the real right having been[F3registered or] recorded,
but does not apply to servitudes or public rights of way.
(3)This section is without prejudice to section 1 of this Act or to [F4section 20B or 20C of the Registration of Leases (Scotland) Act 1857 (c.26)].]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 2 substituted (28.11.2004) by Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 5), ss. 71, 77(2), Sch. 12 paras. 33(2) (with ss. 58, 62, 75); S.S.I. 2003/456, art. 2
F2Words in s. 2(1)(b) substituted (8.12.2014) by Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5), ss. 122, 123, Sch. 5 paras. 18(3)(a) (with s. 121, Sch. 4 paras. 13, 16); S.S.I. 2014/127, art. 2
F3Words in s. 2(2)(b) inserted (8.12.2014) by Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5), ss. 122, 123, Sch. 5 paras. 18(3)(b) (with s. 121, Sch. 4 paras. 13, 16); S.S.I. 2014/127, art. 2
F4Words in s. 2(3) substituted (8.12.2014) by Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5), ss. 122, 123, Sch. 5 paras. 18(3)(c) (with s. 121, Sch. 4 paras. 13, 16); S.S.I. 2014/127, art. 2
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