Occupiers' Liability Act 1984

Occupiers' Liability Act 1984

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the law of England and Wales as to the liability of persons as occupiers of premises for injury suffered by persons other than their visitors; and to amend the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, as it applies to England and Wales, in relation to persons obtaining access to premises for recreational or educational purposes
Citation	1984 c. 3
Introduced by	Lord Hailsham
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	13 March 1984[1]
Commencement	13 May 1984
Other legislation
Amends	Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977
Amended by	Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Relates to	Occupiers' Liability Act 1957
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Occupiers' Liability Act 1984 (c. 3) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that covers occupiers' liability for trespassers. In British Railways Board v Herrington 1972 AC 877, the House of Lords had decided that occupiers owed a duty to trespassers, but the exact application of the decision was unclear. The matter was then referred to the Law Commission for a report, and as a result the Occupiers' Liability Bill was introduced to Parliament by Lord Hailsham on 23 June 1983. The act was given royal assent on 13 March 1984 as the Occupiers' Liability Act 1984 and came into force on 13 May.

The act extends the common duty of care to trespassers as well as visitors, providing that this duty is to be required when the occupier has actual or constructive knowledge that a danger exists and that a trespasser is or may be near it. Unlike the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957, the 1984 act only allows an injured trespasser to claim for death and personal injury, not for damage to personal property. The act also makes amendments to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, with the stated intent of allowing additional educational and recreational use of land.