ELEMENTS OF CONTRACT
CONSENSUS – 3
Communication of acceptance
- The general rule
- Exception 1: offers to the world at large
- Exception 2: the postal rule
- Limits to the postal rule
- Other problems with acceptance: email etc
27 May 2025 elements of contract - consensus 3
, Communication of acceptance
General rule to be effective, acceptance must be communicated
offeror)
I accept What?
There’s no contract in this situation
• An offer may stipulate a particular method of acceptance – but
not, any that’s as quick will do.
In Yates Bldg Co. v Pulleyn & Sons [1975] P had an option (an o
offer) to buy land from D.
D had suggested that P could take up the option by recorded de
letter or registered post. D received P’s acceptance sent by ord
post, but argued that the option wasn’t validly taken up.
Held: it was. The mode specified was not mandatory, only ‘dire
27 May 2025 elements of contract - consensus 3
CONSENSUS – 3
Communication of acceptance
- The general rule
- Exception 1: offers to the world at large
- Exception 2: the postal rule
- Limits to the postal rule
- Other problems with acceptance: email etc
27 May 2025 elements of contract - consensus 3
, Communication of acceptance
General rule to be effective, acceptance must be communicated
offeror)
I accept What?
There’s no contract in this situation
• An offer may stipulate a particular method of acceptance – but
not, any that’s as quick will do.
In Yates Bldg Co. v Pulleyn & Sons [1975] P had an option (an o
offer) to buy land from D.
D had suggested that P could take up the option by recorded de
letter or registered post. D received P’s acceptance sent by ord
post, but argued that the option wasn’t validly taken up.
Held: it was. The mode specified was not mandatory, only ‘dire
27 May 2025 elements of contract - consensus 3
