Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009

The Perpetuities and Accumulations Act 2009 is a piece of United Kingdom legislation that modifies the common-law rule against perpetuities. This rule, originating in Anglo-American law, aims to ensure property can be freely alienated and prevents individuals from controlling property indefinitely after their death.1

The Act extended the perpetuity period to 125 years, meaning property can be tied up for this duration. This contrasts with the older common-law rule, which fixed the period at the lifetimes of individuals alive at the time of the conveyance plus 21 years, plus gestation periods. The rule against perpetuities invalidates future interests in property that might take too long to vest. The 2009 Act, by substituting actual events for possible ones, aims to mitigate the sometimes unpredictable operation of the rule.1