Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973

Positive prescription S

[F1 1 Validity of right S

(1) If land has been possessed by any person, or by any person and his successors, for a continuous period of ten years openly, peaceably and without any judicial interruption and the possession was founded on, and followed—

(a) the recording of a deed which is sufficient in respect of its terms to constitute in favour of that person a real right in—

(i) that land; or

(ii) land of a description habile to include that land; or

[F2 (b) the registration of a deed which is sufficient in respect of its terms to constitute in favour of that person a real right in—

(i) that land; or

(ii) 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.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply where—

(a) possession was founded on the recording of a deed which is invalid ex facie or was forged; or

(b) possession was founded on registration in the Land Register of Scotland proceeding on a forged deed and the person appearing from the Register to have the real right in question was aware of the forgery at the time of registration in his favour.

(3) In subsection (1) above, the reference to a real right is to a real right which is registrable in the Land Register of Scotland or a deed relating to which can competently be recorded; but this section does not apply to [F3 real burdens,]servitudes or public rights of way.

(4) In the computation of a prescriptive period for the purposes of this section in a case where the deed in question is a decree of adjudication for debt, any period before the expiry of the legal shall be disregarded.

(5) Where, in any question involving any foreshore or any salmon fishings, this section is pled against the Crown as owner of the regalia, subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for the words “ten years” there were substituted “twenty years”.

(6) This section is without prejudice to section 2 of this Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 1 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

F2 S. 1(1)(b) substituted (8.12.2014) by Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5), ss. 122, 123, Sch. 5 paras. 18(2) (with ss. 120(1), 121, Sch. 4 paras. 13, 16); S.S.I. 2014/127, art. 2

F3 Words in s. 1(3) inserted (28.11.2004) by Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 9), ss. 122(1), 129(2), Sch. 14 paras. 5(2) (with ss. 119, 121) (see S.S.I. 2003/456, art. 2)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 1 restricted (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 21, ss. 10(2)(b)(4), 68(2)(a) (with s. 40(7)); S.I. 1994/2553, art.2

[F4 2 Special cases S

(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 [F5 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[F6 registered 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 [F7 section 20B or 20C of the Registration of Leases (Scotland) Act 1857 (c.26)].]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 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

F5 Words 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

F6 Words 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

F7 Words 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

3 Positive servitudes and public rights of way. S

(1) If in the case of a positive servitude over land—

(a) the servitude has been possessed 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 which is sufficient in respect of its terms (whether expressly or by implication) to constitute the servitude,

then, as from the expiration of the said period, the validity of the servitude as so constituted shall be exempt from challenge except on the ground that the deed is invalidex facieor was forged.

(2) If a positive servitude over land has been possessed for a continuous period of twenty years openly, peaceably and without judicial interruption, then, as from the expiration of that period, the existence of the servitude as so possessed shall be exempt from challenge.

(3) If a public right of way over land has been possessed by the public for a continuous period of twenty years openly, peaceably and without judicial interruption, then, as from the expiration of that period, the existence of the right of way as so possessed shall be exempt from challenge.

(4) References in subsections (1) and (2) of this section to possession of a servitude are references to possession of the servitude by any person in possession of the relative dominant tenement.

(5) This section is without prejudice to the operation of section 7 of this Act.

4 Judicial interruption of periods of possession for purposes of sections 1, 2 and 3. S

(1) In sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act references to a judicial interruption, in relation to possession, are references to the making in appropriate proceedings, by any person having a proper interest to do so, of a claim which challenges the possession in question.

(2) In this section “appropriate proceedings” means—

(a) any proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction in Scotland or elsewhere, except proceedings in the Court of Session initiated by a summons which is not subsequently called;

(b) any arbitration in Scotland [F8 in respect of which an arbitrator (or panel of arbitrators) has been appointed];

(c) any arbitration in a country other than Scotland, being an arbitration an award in which would be enforceable in Scotland.

(3) The date of a judicial interruption shall be taken to be—

(a) where the claim has been made in an arbitration [F9 , the date when the arbitration begins];

(b) in any other case, the date when the claim was made.

[F10 (4) An arbitration begins for the purposes of this section—

(a) when the parties to the arbitration agree that it begins, or

(b) in the absence of such agreement, in accordance with rule 1 of the Scottish Arbitration Rules (see section 7 of, and schedule 1 to, the Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 1)).]

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in s. 4(2)(b) inserted (7.6.2010 for specified purposes) by Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 1), ss. 23(2)(a), 35(2) (with ss. 30, 34, 36); S.S.I. 2010/195, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F9 Words in s. 4(3)(a) substituted (7.6.2010 for specified purposes) by Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 1), ss. 23(2)(b), 35(2) (with ss. 30, 34, 36); S.S.I. 2010/195, art. 2 (with art. 3)

F10 S. 4(4) substituted (7.6.2010 for specified purposes) by Arbitration (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 1), ss. 23(2)(c), 35(2) (with ss. 30, 34, 36); S.S.I. 2010/195, art. 2 (with arts. 3, 5)

5 Further provisions supplementary to sections 1, 2 and 3. S

(1) In sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Act “deed” includes a judicial decree; and for the purposes of the said sections any of the following, namely an instrument of sasine, a notarial instrument and a notice of [F11 right in land shall be treated as a deed sufficient to constitute that right] in favour of that person.

[F12 (1A) Any reference in those sections to a real right's being exempt from challenge as from the expiration of some continuous period is to be construed, if the real right of the possessor was void immediately before that expiration, as including reference to acquisition of the real right by the possessor.]

F13 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 5(1) substituted (28.11.2004) by Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 5), ss. 71, 77(2), Sch. 12 paras. 33(3) (with ss. 58, 62, 75); S.S.I. 2003/456, art. 2

F12 S. 5(1A) inserted (8.12.2014) by Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 5), ss. 122, 123, Sch. 5 paras. 18(4) (with ss. 120(1), 121, Sch. 4 paras. 13, 16); S.S.I. 2014/127, art. 2

F13 S. 5(2) repealed (1.8.1995) by 1995 c. 7, ss. 14(2), 15(2), Sch.5 (with ss. 9(3)(5)(7), 13, 14(3))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 5 modified (prosp.) by 2000 asp 5, ss. 57, 77(2) (with ss. 58, 62, 75)