Innkeepers Act 1970

2020 REVISED EDITION

This revised edition incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 December 2021 and comes into operation on 31 December 2021

An Act to limit the liability of innkeepers and to provide for their further relief.

[1 March 1971]

Short title

1. This Act is the Innkeepers Act 1970.

PART 1

LIMITATION OF INNKEEPERS’ LIABILITY

Interpretation

2. In this Part —

“inn” means any hotel, tavern, public house, restaurant or other place of refreshment, the keeper of which is now by law responsible for the goods and property of his guests;

“innkeeper” means the keeper of any such place, and includes a company or corporation;

“manager” means the agent or servant of the innkeeper for the time being in charge of the inn or any person duly appointed by the innkeeper to receive the goods of his guests for safe custody.

Limitation of innkeepers’ liability

3.—(1) No innkeeper shall be liable to make good to his guest any loss of or injury to goods or property brought to his inn, not being a horse or other live animal, or any gear appertaining thereto or any car or carriage, to a greater amount than the sum of $500, except —

(a)	where the goods or property have been stolen, lost or injured through the wilful act, default or neglect of the innkeeper or any servant in his employ; or
(b)	where the goods or property have been deposited expressly for safe custody with the innkeeper or his manager.

(2) In the case of any such deposit it shall be lawful for the innkeeper or his manager, if he thinks fit, to require, as a condition of his liability —

(a)	that the guest shall at the time of such deposit declare the value of the goods or property; and
(b)	that the goods or property shall be deposited in a box or other receptacle, fastened and sealed by the person depositing the same.

(3) An innkeeper or his manager may refuse to receive for safe custody under this section goods or property of any one guest the declared value of which exceeds $5,000, and shall in no case be liable for loss of or injury to goods or property so deposited by a guest to an amount exceeding the declared value thereof.

Refusal to accept property for safe custody

4. If any innkeeper or his manager refuses to receive for safe custody, as before mentioned, any goods or property of his guest the declared value of which does not exceed $5,000, or if any such guest is unable, through any default of the innkeeper or manager, to deposit the goods or property as aforesaid, the innkeeper shall not be entitled to the benefit of this Part in respect of the goods or property.

Copy of section 3 to be exhibited

5. Every innkeeper shall cause at least one copy of section 3 printed in plain type in English to be exhibited in a conspicuous part of the hall or entrance to his inn, and he shall be entitled to the benefit of this Part in respect of the goods or property only as are brought to his inn while such copy is so exhibited.

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