Express terms are the terms of the agreement which are expressly agreed between the parties. Ideally, they will be written down in a contract between the parties but where the contract is agreed verbally, they will be the terms discussed and agreed between the parties.
Implied terms are terms implied into the contract by the courts. They are not expressly set out in the contract but are taken to be as effective as if they were and as if they had been included from day one of the contract. The express terms and any implied terms together create the legally binding obligations on the parties.
The types of express terms to be found in a contract are many and varied and will depend on the type of contract. Any term written into the contract is an express term and may refer to price, time scales, warranties and indemnities, limitations on liability, conditions precedent and so on.
An implied term is a term which the courts imply into a contract because it has not been expressly included by the parties. This may be because the parties did not consider it, did not think that any problem would arise in relation to it or simply omitted to include it.
The courts are very reluctant to imply terms into contracts and will only do so in the following circumstances:
1. terms implied under statute
2. terms implied under common law
3. terms implied because of custom or usage
4. terms implied due to previous dealings
5. terms implied ‘in fact’ or to reflect the parties’ intentions
[Reference:, - CIPS study guide page 126-132, - Contracts: Express and Implied Terms, LO 3, AC 3.1, ]
