The Government has backed off plans to encourage buyers and sellers from using the same conveyancers which it believed would fix the “broken housing market”.  

The Government proposals had raised grave concerns amongst conveyancers as this would have created serious conflicts of interest.  The process of selling and purchasing property is very much governed by the rule of "Caveat Emptor" which means "let the buyer beware". 

Whilst the seller is required to provide certain information and must ensure that the information they provide is as accurate as possible, they are not required to volunteer any additional information.  It is the buyer and their solicitors responsibility that they analyse any information provided, ask any additional information and carry out any relevant searches and tests.

At a time of a housing crisis, this appears to be one further attempt by the Government to introduce a policy which has not really been thought through.