Benny's Sofa Rights Checker
Your sofa's gone wrong. Where do you stand?
Five honest questions and Benny tells you your likely legal position under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the exact next step, and hands you a template letter that cites the law correctly. Free, no email, nothing sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
This is general information, not legal advice. Benny reads the legislation so you don't have to, but he can't know every detail of your case. For advice on your specific situation, contact Citizens Advice (free) or a solicitor.
Question 1 of 5
When did the sofa arrive?
“The clock decides a lot here. Be roughly honest.”
A statistic you're free to cite — just link back to this page
Upholstery is the UK's single biggest furniture-complaint category — 37% of all cases the Ombudsman closed in 2025.
The Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman closed 6,832 cases in 2025. Upholstery — which the Ombudsman defines as sofas, armchairs, corner units, footstools and recliners — was the largest single category at 37%, ahead of home improvement (36%). Put plainly: more people fall out with their sofa than with almost anything else they buy for the home. Knowing your rights before you buy is not paranoia — it's the odds.
Source: Furniture & Home Improvement Ombudsman, 2025 Annual Review. Category shares move year to year (upholstery was 35% in 2024, 41% in 2023) — cite the year. Free to reproduce with a link to this page.
The rights, in Benny plain English
First 30 days
Faulty, not as described, or not fit for purpose? You can reject it for a full refund. No repair, no exchange, no “let us send an engineer first” — unless you want one.
30 days to 6 months
The law presumes the fault was there at delivery — the retailer has to prove otherwise. They get one repair or replacement; if it fails, you can reject.
6 months to 6 years
Still covered — up to 6 years (5 in Scotland) — but now the burden's on you. An independent inspection report (£100–£200) usually settles it, and its cost is recoverable if you win.
Made-to-order & online
Bought online? A standard sofa can be cancelled within 14 days for any reason. Bespoke or made-to-your-spec? That cancellation right usually doesn't apply — but faults are still covered.
The checker above answers your specific case; the guides explain the whole picture.
Common questions
Can I return a faulty sofa and get a full refund?+
If the sofa is faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose and it's within 30 days of delivery, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you a short-term right to reject it for a full refund — you don't have to accept a repair or replacement first. Between 30 days and 6 months, the retailer gets one chance to repair or replace before you can claim a refund, but the burden of proof that the fault wasn't there at delivery is on them.
How long do I have to complain about a sofa?+
Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 last up to 6 years from purchase in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 5 years in Scotland. That doesn't mean everything is covered for 6 years — after 6 months you may need to prove the fault was inherent rather than caused by use, often with an independent inspection report.
Can I cancel a made-to-order or bespoke sofa if I change my mind?+
Usually not. The 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 applies to standard sofas bought online or by phone, but it specifically excludes goods 'made to the consumer's specification or clearly personalised'. A sofa built in your chosen fabric, size or configuration is normally exempt — though your rights if it turns out faulty are unaffected.
Does the retailer or the manufacturer have to sort out my faulty sofa?+
The retailer. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 are against the business that sold you the sofa, not the manufacturer. A shop saying 'contact the maker' or 'we don't do refunds' cannot pass off or sign away its legal responsibility.
Does paying by credit card protect my sofa purchase?+
Yes. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes your credit card or finance provider jointly liable with the retailer on purchases between £100 and £30,000 — useful if the retailer refuses to help or goes out of business. From 15 July 2026, regulated Buy Now Pay Later agreements taken out on or after that date get the same protection.