Timeshare Act 1992 (repealed)

Timeshare Act 1992

1992 CHAPTER 35

An Act to provide for rights to cancel certain agreements about timeshare accommodation.

[16th March 1992]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Commencement Information

I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 13(2); Act wholly in force at 12.10.1992.

1 Application of Act. U.K.

(1) In this Act—

(a) “timeshare accommodation” means any living accommodation, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, used or intended to be used, wholly or partly, for leisure purposes by a class of persons (referred to below in this section as “timeshare users”) all of whom have rights to use, or participate in arrangements under which they may use, that accommodation, or accommodation within a pool of accommodation to which that accommodation belongs, for intermittent periods of short duration, and

(b) “timeshare rights” means rights by virtue of which a person becomes or will become a timeshare user, being rights exercisable during a period of not less than three years.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above—

(a) “accommodation” means accommodation in a building or in a caravan (as defined in section 29(1) of the M1 Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960), and

(b) a period of not more than one month, or such other period as may be prescribed, is a period of short duration.

(3) Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply to a person’s rights—

(a) as the owner of any shares or securities,

(b) under a contract of employment ([F1 within the meaning of the Employment Rights Act 1996]) or a policy of insurance, or

(c) by virtue of his taking part in a collective investment scheme (as defined in section 75 of the M2 Financial Services Act 1986),

or to such rights as may be prescribed.

(4) In this Act “timeshare agreement” means, subject to subsection (6) below, an agreement under which timeshare rights are conferred or purport to be conferred on any person and in this Act, in relation to a timeshare agreement—

(a) references to the offeree are to the person on whom timeshare rights are conferred, or purport to be conferred, and

(b) references to the offeror are to the other party to the agreement,

and, in relation to any time before the agreement is entered into, references in this Act to the offeree or the offeror are to the persons who become the offeree and offeror when it is entered into.

(5) In this Act “timeshare credit agreement” means, subject to subsection (6) below, an agreement, not being a timeshare agreement—

(a) under which a person (referred to in this Act as the “creditor”) provides or agrees to provide credit for or in respect of a person who is the offeree under a timeshare agreement, and

(b) when the credit agreement is entered into, the creditor knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the whole or part of the credit is to be used for the purpose of financing the offeree’s entering into a timeshare agreement.

(6) An agreement is not a timeshare agreement or a timeshare credit agreement if, when entered into, it may be cancelled by virtue of section 67 of the M3 Consumer Credit Act 1974.

(7) This Act applies to any timeshare agreement or timeshare credit agreement if—

(a) the agreement is to any extent governed by the law of the United Kingdom or of a part of the United Kingdom, or

(b) when the agreement is entered into, one or both of the parties are in the United Kingdom.

(8) In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—

(a) for the reference in subsection (2)(a) above to section 29(1) of the M4 Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 there is substituted a reference to section 25(1) of the M5 Caravans Act (Northern Ireland) 1963, and

(b) for the reference in subsection (3)(b) above to [F2 the Employment Rights Act 1996] there is substituted a reference to article 2(2) of the M6 Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(3)(b) substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 18, ss. 240, 243, Sch. 1 para. 53(a) (with ss. 191-195, 202)

F2 Words in s. 1(8)(b) substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 18, ss. 240, 243, Sch. 1 para. 53(b) (with ss. 191-195, 202)

Commencement Information

I2 S. 1 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1960 c. 62.

M2 1986 c. 60.

M3 1974 c. 39.

M4 1960 c. 62.

M5 1963. c. 17. (N.I.)

M6 S.I. 1976/1043 (N.I. 16)

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F3 1A Obligations to provide information. U.K.

(1) A person who proposes in the course of a business to enter into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror (an “operator”) must provide any person who requests information on the proposed accommodation with a document complying with subsection (2) below.

(2) The document shall provide—

(a) a general description of the proposed accommodation,

(b) information (which may be brief) on the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g), (i) and (l) of Schedule 1 to this Act, and

(c) information on how further information may be obtained.

(3) Where an operator—

(a) provides a person with a document containing information on the proposed accommo dation, and

(b) subsequently enters as offeror into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies the subject of which is the proposed accommodation,

subsection (4) below applies.

(4) If the offeree under the agreement is an individual who—

(a) is not acting in the course of a business, and

(b) has received the document mentioned in subsection (3) above,

any information contained in that document which was, or would on request have been, required to be provided under section (2)(b) above shall be deemed to be a term of the agreement.

(5) If, in a case where subsection (4) above applies, a change in the information contained in the document is communicated to the offeree in writing before the timeshare agreement is entered into, the change shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act always to have been incorporated in the information contained in the document if—

(a) the change arises from circumstances beyond the offeror’s control, or

(b) the offeror and the offeree expressly agree to the change before entering into the timeshare agreement,

and the change is expressly mentioned in the timeshare agreement.

(6) A person who contravenes subsection (1) above is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(7) In this section “the proposed accommodation” means—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the proposed agreement, or

(b) the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the proposed agreement,

as the case may be.

(8) This section only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the proposed agreement or agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the proposed agreement or agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 1A inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg. 3(1)

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F4 1B Advertising of timeshare rights. U.K.

(1) No person shall advertise timeshare rights in the course of a business unless the advertisement indicates the possibility of obtaining the document referred to in section 1A(1) of this Act and where it may be obtained.

(2) A person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(3) In proceedings against a person for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for that person to show that at the time when he advertised the timeshare rights—

(a) he did not know and had no reasonable cause to suspect that he was advertising timeshare rights, or

(b) he had reasonable cause to believe that the advertisement complied with the requirements of subsection (1) above.

(4) This section only applies if—

(a) the timeshare accommodation concerned is, or appears from the advertisement to be, accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation concerned is, or appears from the advertisement to be, accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F4 S. 1B inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.4

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F5 1C Obligatory terms of timeshare agreement. U.K.

(1) A person must not in the course of a business enter into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror unless the agreement includes, as terms set out in it, the information referred to in Schedule 1 to this Act.

(2) If and to the extent that any information set out in an agreement in accordance with subsection (1) above is inconsistent with any term (the “deemed term”) which is deemed to be included in the agreement under section 1A(4) of this Act, the agreement shall be treated for all purposes of this Act as if the deemed term, and not that information, were set out and included in the agreement.

(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) above is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(4) This section only applies if the offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(5) This section only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 1C inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.5

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F6 1D Form of agreement and language of brochure and agreement U.K.

(1) A person must not in the course of a business enter into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror unless the agreement is in writing and complies with subsections (3) to (5) below, so far as applicable.

(2) A person who is required to provide a document under subsection (1) of section 1A of this Act contravenes that subsection if he does not provide a document which complies with subsections (3) and (4) below, so far as applicable.

(3) If the customer is resident in, or a national of, an EEA State, the agreement or document (as the case may be) must be drawn up in a language which is—

(a) the language, or one of the languages, of the EEA State in which he is resident, or

(b) the language, or one of the languages, of the EEA State of which he is a national,

and is an official language of an EEA State.

(4) If, in a case falling within subsection (3) above, there are two or more languages in which the agreement or document may be drawn up in compliance with that subsection and the customer nominates one of those languages, the agreement or document must be drawn up in the language he nominates.

(5) If the offeree is resident in the United Kingdom and the agreement would not, apart from this subsection, be required to be drawn up in English, it must be drawn up in English (in addition to any other language in which it is drawn up).

(6) A person who contravenes subsection (1) above is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(7) In this section “the customer” means—

(a) for the purposes of subsection (1) above, the offeree, and

(b) for the purposes of subsection (2) above, the person to whom the document is required to be provided.

(8) Subsection (1) above only applies if the offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(9) Subsection (1) above only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F6 S. 1D inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.6

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F7 1E Translation of agreement. U.K.

(1) A person must not in the course of a business enter into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror unless he complies with subsection (2) below.

(2) If the timeshare accommodation which is the subject of the agreement, or any of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement, is situated in an EEA State, the offeror must provide the offeree with a certified translation of the agreement in the language, or one of the languages, of that State.

(3) The language of the translation must be an official language of an EEA State.

(4) Subsection (1) above does not apply if the agreement is drawn up in a language in which the translation is required or permitted to be made.

(5) A person who contravenes subsection (1) above is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(6) In this section “certified translation” means a translation which is certified to be accurate by a person authorised to make or verify translations for the purposes of court proceedings.

(7) This section only applies if the offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(8) This section only applies if—

(a) the accommodn conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(6) In this section “certified translation” means a translation which is certified to be accurate by a person authorised to make or verify translations for the purposes of court proceedings.

(7) This section only applies if the offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(8) This section only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building.

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 1E inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.7

2 Obligation to give notice of right to cancel timeshare agreement. U.K.

(1) A person must not in the course of a business enter into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror unless the offeree has received, together with a document setting out the terms of the agreement or the substance of those terms, notice of his right to cancel the agreement.

(2) A notice under this section must state—

(a) that the offeree is entitled to give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at any time on or before the date specified in the notice, being a day falling not less than fourteen days after the day on which the agreement is entered into, and

(b) that if the offeree gives such a notice to the offeror on or before that date he will have no further rights or obligations under the agreement, but will have the right to recover any sums paid under or in contemplation of the agreement.

(3) A person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 2 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

3 Obligation to give notice of right to cancel timeshare credit agreement. U.K.

(1) A person must not in the course of a business enter into a timeshare credit agreement to which this Act applies as creditor unless the offeree has received, together with a document setting out the terms of the agreement or the substance of those terms, notice of his right to cancel the agreement.

(2) A notice under this section must state—

(a) that the offeree is entitled to give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the creditor at any time on or before the date specified in the notice, being a day falling not less than fourteen days after the day on which the agreement is entered into, and

(b) that, if the offeree gives such a notice to the creditor on or before that date, then—

(i) so far as the agreement relates to repayment of credit and payment of interest, it shall have effect subject to section 7 of this Act, and

(ii) subject to sub-paragraph (i) above, the offeree will have no further rights or obligations under the agreement.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 3 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

4 Provisions supplementary to sections 2 and 3. U.K.

(1) Sections 2 and 3 of this Act do not apply where, in entering into the agreement, the offeree is acting in the course of a business.

(2) A notice under section 2 or 3 must be accompanied by a blank notice of cancellation and any notice under section 2 or 3 of this Act or blank notice of cancellation must—

(a) be in such form as may be prescribed, and

(b) comply with such requirements (whether as to type, size, colour or disposition of lettering, quality or colour of paper, or otherwise) as may be prescribed for securing that the notice is prominent and easily legible.

(3) An agreement is not invalidated by reason of a contravention of section 2 or 3.

Commencement Information

I5 S. 4 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

5 Right to cancel timeshare agreement. U.K.

(1) Where a person—

(a) has entered, or proposes to enter, into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeree, and

(b) has received the notice required under section 2 of this Act before entering into the agreement,

the agreement may not be enforced against him on or before the date specified in the notice in pursuance of subsection (2)(a) of that section and he may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at any time on or before that date.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, where a person who enters into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeree has not received the notice required under section 2 of this Act before entering into the agreement, the agreement may not be enforced against him and he may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at any time.

(3) If in a case falling within subsection (2) above the offeree affirms the agreement at any time after the expiry of the period of fourteen days beginning with the day on which the agreement is entered into—

(a) subsection (2) above does not prevent the agreement being enforced against him, and

(b) he may not at any subsequent time give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror.

(4) The offeree’s giving, within the time allowed under this section, notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at a time when the agreement has been entered into shall have the effect of cancelling the agreement.

(5) The offeree’s giving notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror before the agreement has been entered into shall have the effect of withdrawing any offer to enter into the agreement.

(6) Where a timeshare agreement is cancelled under this section, then, subject to subsection (9) below—

(a) the agreement shall cease to be enforceable, and

(b) subsection (8) below shall apply.

(7) Subsection (8) below shall also apply where giving a notice of cancellation has the effect of withdrawing an offer to enter into a timeshare agreement.

(8) Where this subsection applies—

(a) any sum which the offeree has paid under or in contemplation of the agreement to the offeror, or to any person who is the offeror’s agent for the purpose of receiving that sum, shall be recoverable from the offeror by the offeree and shall be due and payable at the time the notice of cancellation is given, but

(b) no sum may be recovered by or on behalf of the offeror from the offeree in respect of the agreement.

(9) Where a timeshare agreement includes provision for providing credit for or in respect of the offeree, then, notwithstanding the giving of notice of cancellation under this section, so far as the agreement relates to repayment of the credit and payment of interest—

(a) it shall continue to be enforceable, subject to section 7 of this Act, and

(b) the notice required under section 2 of this Act must also state that fact.

Commencement Information

I6 S. 5 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F8 5A Additional right to cancel timeshare agreement. U.K.

(1) If a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies does not include, as terms set out in it, the information referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d)(i), (d)(ii), (h), (i), (k), (l) and (m) of Schedule 1 to this Act, the agreement may not be enforced against the offeree before the end of the period of three months and ten days beginning with the day on which the agreement was entered into, and the offeree may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at any time during that period.

(2) If the information referred to in subsection (1) above is provided to the offeree before the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which the agreement was entered into—

(a) the offeree may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror at any time within the period of ten days beginning with the day on which the information is received by the offeree, but

(b) the offeree may not at any subsequent time give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the offeror under subsection (1) above.

(3) If the last day of the period referred to in subsection (1) above or the last day of the period of ten days referred to in subsection (2) above is a public holiday, the period concerned shall not end until the end of the first working day after the public holiday.

(4) The reference in subsection (1) above to a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies includes a reference to a binding preliminary agreement.

(5) This section only applies of the offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(6) This section only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 5A inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg. 9(6)

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F9 5B Advance payments. U.K.

(1) A person who enters, or proposes to enter, in the course of a business into a timeshare agreement to which this Act applies as offeror must not (either in person or through another person) request or accept from the offeree or proposed offeree any advance payment before the end of the period during which notice of cancellation of the agreement may be given under section 5 or 5A of this Act.

(2) A person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(3) Subsection (1) above only applies if the offeree or proposed offeree—

(a) is an individual, and

(b) is not acting in the course of a business.

(4) Subsection (1) above only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the agreement or proposed agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the agreement or proposed agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F9 S. 5B inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.10

6 Right to cancel timeshare credit agreement. U.K.

(1) Where a person—

(a) has entered into a timeshare credit agreement to which this Act applies as offeree, and

(b) has received the notice required under section 3 of this Act before entering into the agreement,

he may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the creditor at any time on or before the date specified in the notice in pursuance of subsection (2)(a) of that section.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, where a person who enters into a timeshare credit agreement to which this Act applies as offeree has not received the notice required under section 3 of this Act before entering into the agreement, he may give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the creditor at any time.

(3) If in a case falling within subsection (2) above the offeree affirms the agreement at any time after the expiry of the period of fourteen days beginning with the day on which the agreement is entered into, he may not at any subsequent time give notice of cancellation of the agreement to the creditor.

(4) The offeree’s giving, within the time allowed under this section, notice of cancellation of the agreement to the creditor at a time when the agreement has been entered into shall have the effect of cancelling the agreement.

(5) Where a timeshare credit agreement is cancelled under this section—

(a) the agreement shall continue in force, subject to section 7 of this Act, so far as it relates to repayment of the credit and payment of interest, and

(b) subject to paragraph (a) above, the agreement shall cease to be enforceable.

Commencement Information

I7 S. 6 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F10 6A Automatic cancellation of timeshare credit agreement. U.K.

(1) Where—

(a) a notice of cancellation of a timeshare agreement is given under section 5 or 5A of this Act, and

(b) the giving of the notice has the effect of cancelling the agreement,

the notice shall also have the effect of cancelling any related timeshare credit agreement to which this Act applies.

(2) Where a timeshare credit agreement is cancelled as mentioned in subsection (1) above, the offeror shall, if he is not the same person as the creditor under the related timeshare credit agreement, forthwith on receipt of the notice inform the creditor that the notice has been given.

(3) A timeshare credit agreement is related to a timeshare agreement for the purposes of this section if credit under the timeshare credit agreement fully or partly covers the price under the timeshare agreement.

(4) Subsection (1) above only applies if the offeree under the timeshare agreement concerned is an individual.

(5) Subsection (1) above only applies if—

(a) the accommodation which is the subject of the timeshare agreement is accommodation in a building, or

(b) some or all of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation which is the subject of the timeshare agreement is accommodation in a building,

as the case may be.]

Textual Amendments

F10 S. 6A inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg. 11(3)

7 Repayment of credit and interest. U.K.

(1) This section applies following—

(a) the giving of notice of cancellation of a timeshare agreement in accordance with section 5 of this Act in a case where subsection (9) of that section applies, or

(b) the giving of notice of cancellation of a timeshare credit agreement in accordance with section 6 of this Act.

(2) If the offeree repays the whole or a portion of the credit—

(a) before the expiry of one month following the giving of the notice, or

(b) in the case of a credit repayable by instalments, before the date on which the first instalment is due,

no interest shall be payable on the amount repaid.

(3) If the whole of a credit repayable by instalments is not repaid on or before the date specified in subsection (2)(b) above, the offeree shall not be liable to repay any of the credit except on receipt of a request in writing in such form as may be prescribed, signed by or on behalf of the offeror or (as the case may be) creditor, stating the amounts of the remaining instalments (recalculated by the offeror or creditor as nearly as may be in accordance with the agreement and without extending the repayment period), but excluding any sum other than principal and interest.

Commencement Information

I8 S. 7 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

8 Defence of due diligence. U.K.

(1) In proceedings against a person for an offence under section 2(3) of this Act it shall be a defence for that person to show that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

(2) Where in proceedings against a person for such an offence the defence provided by subsection (1) above involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due—

(a) to the act or default of another, or

(b) to reliance on information given by another,

that person shall not, without the leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless he has served a notice under subsection (3) below on the person bringing the proceedings not less than seven clear days before the hearing of the proceedings or, in Scotland, the diet of trial.

(3) A notice under this subsection shall give such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the person who committed the act or default or gave the information as is in the possession of the person serving the notice at the time when he serves it.

Commencement Information

I9 S. 8 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

9 Liability of persons other than principal offender. U.K.

(1) Where the commission by a person of an offence under section 2(3) of this Act is due to the act or default of some other person, that other person is guilty of the offence and may be proceeded against and punished by virtue of this section whether or not proceedings are taken against the first-mentioned person.

(2) Where a body corporate is guilty of an offence under section 2(3) of this Act (including where it is so guilty by virtue of subsection (1) above) in respect of an act or default which is shown to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or a person who was purporting to act in such a capacity, he (as well as the body corporate) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(3) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (2) above applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.

(4) Where an offence under section 2(3) of this Act committed in Scotland by a Scottish partnership is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to neglect on the part of, a partner, he (as well as the partnership) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Commencement Information

I10 S. 9 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

10 Enforcement. U.K.

The Schedule to this Act (which makes provision about enforcement) shall have effect.

Commencement Information

I11 S. 10 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F11 10A Civil proceedings. U.K.

(1) The obligation to comply with subsection (1) of section 1A of this Act shall be a duty owed by the person who proposes to enter into a timeshare agreement to any person whom he is required to provide with a document under that subsection and a contravention of the obligation shall be actionable accordingly.

(2) The obligation to comply with section 1C(1), 1D(1), and 1E(1) of this Act shall in each case be a duty owed by the person who enters into a timeshare agreement as offeror to the offeree and a contravention of the obligation shall be actionable accordingly.

(3) The obligation to comply with section 6A(2) of this Act shall be a duty owed by the offeror under the timeshare agreement to the creditor under the related timeshare credit agreement and a contravention of the obligation shall be actionable accordingly.]

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 10A inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg.12

11 Prosecution time limit. U.K.

(1) No proceedings for an offence under section 2(3) of this Act or paragraph 4(3) or 5(1) of the Schedule to this Act shall be commenced after—

(a) the end of the period of three years beginning with the date of the commission of the offence, or

(b) the end of the period of one year beginning with the date of the discovery of the offence by the prosecutor,

whichever is the earlier.

(2) For the purposes of this section a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which the offence was discovered by him shall be conclusive evidence of that fact; and a certificate stating that matter and purporting to be so signed shall be treated as so signed unless the contrary is proved.

(3) In relation to proceedings in Scotland, subsection (3) of [F12 section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995] (date of commencement of proceedings) shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that.

Textual Amendments

F12 Words in s. 11(3) substituted (1.4.1996) by 1995 c. 40, s. 5, Sch. 4 para.83 (with s. 4, Sch. 3)

Commencement Information

I12 S. 11 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

12 General provisions. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a notice of cancellation of an agreement is a notice (however expressed) showing that the offeree wishes unconditionally to cancel the agreement, whether or not it is in a prescribed form.

(2) The rights conferred and duties imposed by sections 2 to 7 of this Act are in addition to any rights conferred or duties imposed by or under any other Act.

(3) For the purposes of this Act, if the offeree sends a notice by post in a properly addressed and pre-paid letter the notice is to be treated as given at the time of posting.

(4) This Act shall have effect in relation to any timeshare agreement or timeshare credit agreement notwithstanding any agreement or notice.

(5) For the purposes of the M7 Consumer Credit Act 1974, a transaction done under or for the purposes of a timeshare agreement is not, in relation to any regulated agreement (within the meaning of that Act), a linked transaction.

(6) In this Act—

• “credit” includes a cash loan and any other form of financial accommodation,

• “notice” means notice in writing,

• “order” means an order made by the Secretary of State, and

• “prescribed” means prescribed by an order.

(7) An order under this Act may make different provision for different cases or circumstances.

(8) Any power under this Act to make an order shall be exercisable by statutory instrument and a statutory instrument containing an order under this Act (other than an order made for the purposes of section 13(2) of this Act) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Commencement Information

I13 S. 12 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M7 1974 c. 39.

13 Short title, etc. U.K.

(1) This Act may be cited as the Timeshare Act 1992.

(2) This Act shall come into force on such day as may be prescribed.

(3) This Act extends to Northern Ireland.

Subordinate Legislation Made

P1 S. 13(2) power fully exercised (6.8.1992): 12.10.1992 appointed for whole Act by S.I. 1992/1941.

Commencement Information

I14 S. 13 wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Valid from 29/04/1997

[F13 Schedule 1 U.K. Minimum list of items to be included in a timeshare agreement to which section 1C applies

Textual Amendments

F13 Sch. 1 inserted (29.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/1081, reg. 3(3), Sch.

(a) The identities and domiciles of the parties, including specific information on the offeror’s legal status at the time of the conclusion of the agreement and the identity and domicile of the owner.

(b) The exact nature of the right which is the subject of the agreement and, if the accommodation concerned, or any of the accommodation in the pool of accommodation concerned, is situated in the territory of an EEA State, a clause setting out the conditions governing the exercise of that right within the territory of that State and if those conditions have been fulfilled or, if they have not, what conditions remain to be fulfilled.

(c) When the timeshare accommodation has been determined, an accurate description of that accommodation and its location.

(d) Where the timeshare accommodation is under construction—

(i) the state of completion,

(ii) a reasonable estimate of the deadline for completion of the timeshare accommodation,

(iii) where it concerns specific timeshare accommodation, the number of the building permit and the name and full address of the competent authority or authorities,

(iv) the state of completion of the services rendering the timeshare accommodation fully operational (gas, electricity, water and telephone connections),

(v) a guarantee regarding completion of the timeshare accommodation or a guarantee regarding reimbursement of any payment made if the accommodation is not completed and, where appropriate, the conditions governing the operation of those guarantees.

(e) The services (lighting, water, maintenance, refuse collection) to which the offeree has or will have access and on what conditions.

(f) The common facilities, such as swimming pool, sauna, etc., to which the offeree has or may have access, and where appropriate, on what conditions.

(g) The principles on the basis of which the maintenance of and repairs to the timeshare accommodation and its administration and management will be arranged.

(h) The exact period within which the right which is the subject of the agreement may be exercised and, if necessary, its duration; the date on which the offeree may start to exercise that right.

(i) The price to be paid by the offeree to exercise the right under the agreement; an estimate of the amount to be paid by the offeree for the use of common facilities and services; the basis for the calculation of the amount of charges relating to occupation of the timeshare accommodation, the mandatory statutory charges (for example, taxes and fees) and the administrative overheads (for example, management, maintenance and repairs).

(j) A clause stating that acquisitions will not result in costs, charges or obligations other than those specified in the agreement.

(k) Whether or not it is possible to join a scheme for the exchange or resale of the rights under the agreement, and any costs involved should an exchange or resale scheme be organised by the offeror or by a third party designated by him in the agreement.

(l) Information on the right to cancel or withdraw from the agreement and indication of the person to whom any letter of cancellation or withdrawal should be sent, specifying also the arrangements under which such letters may be sent; where appropriate, information on the arrangements for the cancellation of the credit agreement linked to the agreement in the event of cancellation of the agreement or withdrawal from it.

(m) The date and place of each party’s signing of the agreement.]

Section 10.

SCHEDULE U.K. Enforcement

Enforcement authority U.K.

1 (1) Every local weights and measures authority in Great Britain shall be an enforcement authority for the purposes of this Schedule, and it shall be the duty of each such authority to enforce the provisions of this Act within their area. U.K.

(2) The Department of Economic Development in Northern Ireland shall be an enforcement authority for the purposes of this Schedule, and it shall be the duty of the Department to enforce the provisions of this Act within Northern Ireland.

Commencement Information

I15 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Prosecutions U.K.

2 (1) In section 130(1) of the M8 Fair Trading Act 1973 (notice to Director General of Fair Trading of intended prosecution by local weights and measures authority in England and Wales), after “the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991” there is inserted “ or for an offence under section 2 of the Timeshare Act 1992 ”. U.K.

(2) Nothing in paragraph 1 above shall authorise a local weights and measures authority to bring proceedings in Scotland for an offence.

Commencement Information

I16 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M8 1973 c. 41.

Powers of officers of enforcement authority U.K.

3 (1) If a duly authorised officer of an enforcement authority has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence under section 2 of this Act has been committed, he may—

(a) require a person carrying on or employed in a business to produce any book or document relating to the business, and take copies of it or any entry in it, or

(b) require such a person to produce in a visible and legible documentary form any information so relating which is contained in a computer, and take copies of it,

for the purposes of ascertaining whether such an offence has been committed.

(2) If such an officer has reasonable grounds for believing that any documents may be required as evidence in proceedings for such an offence, he may seize and detain them and shall, if he does so, inform the person from whom they are seized.

(3) The powers of an officer under this paragraph may be exercised by him only at a reasonable hour and on production (if required) of his credentials.

(4) Nothing in this paragraph requires a person to produce, or authorises the taking from a person of, a document which he could not be compelled to produce in civil proceedings before the High Court or (in Scotland) the Court of Session.

Commencement Information

I17 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

4 (1) A person who— U.K.

(a) intentionally obstructs an officer of an enforcement authority acting in pursuance of this Schedule,

(b) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement made of him by such an officer under paragraph 3(1) above, or

(c) without reasonable excuse fails to give an officer of an enforcement authority acting in pursuance of this Schedule any other assistance or information which the officer has reasonably required of him for the purpose of the performance of the officer’s functions under this Schedule,

is guilty of an offence.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) above is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(3) If a person, in giving information to an officer of an enforcement authority who is acting in pursuance of this Schedule—

(a) makes a statement which he knows is false in a material particular, or

(b) recklessly makes a statement which is false in a material particular,

he is guilty of an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (3) above is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Commencement Information

I18 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Disclosure of information U.K.

5 (1) If a person discloses to another any information obtained in the exercise of functions under this Schedule he is guilty of an offence unless the disclosure was made— U.K.

(a) in or for the purpose of the performance by him or any other person of any such function, or

(b) for a purpose specified in section 38(2)(a), (b) or (c) of the M9 Consumer Protection Act 1987 (enforcement of various enactments; compliance with Community obligations; and civil or criminal proceedings).

(2) A person guilty of an offence under sub-paragraph (1) above is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, and

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 para. 5(1): disclosure powers extended (14.12.2001) by 2001 c. 24, ss. 17, 127(2), Sch. 4 Pt. 1 para. 33

Commencement Information

I19 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M9 1987 c. 43.

Privilege against self-incrimination U.K.

6 U.K. Nothing in this Schedule requires a person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate him.

Commencement Information

I20 Sch. wholly in force at 12.10.1992 see s. 13(2) and S.I. 1992/1941, art. 2