How long is a seller liable for defects in a purchased item?
Claims for defects under a sales contract become time-barred two years after delivery of the item. For used items the period can be shortened to one year; for buildings and items used for a building it is five years. The period cannot end earlier than six months after the defect was notified.
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Source
- Source
- Civil Code, section 438
- Acts
- German Civil Code
- Area
- Contract, trade and consumer
- Checked
- 2026-10-03
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