Gym members will be able to cancel contracts more easily, following an OFT investigation

Millions of gym members have been given new rights to cancel membership contracts, after an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Three of the UK’s biggest gyms have agreed to allow their members to cancel their contracts early, should their circumstances change.

Until now many gyms have been notorious for locking people into lengthy contracts.

The three gyms involved are Bannatyne Fitness, David Lloyd and Fitness First.

The new rights will allow contracts to be cancelled if members can no longer physically get to the gym or if they can no longer afford to pay.

This would allow a gym member to end a contract if they suffered an injury, or if they lost their job.

“We were concerned that contracts could unfairly lock people in if their circumstances changed, forcing them to continue paying even if they had lost their job,” said Cavendish Elithorn, of the OFT.

Joining a gym can be expensive, with fees of £500 a year being typical.

The OFT is now continuing its investigation into other gyms in the UK, and will provide an update in the coming weeks.