No duty on buyer’s conveyancer to investigate seller’s credit status

Table of contents

• Original news
• What were the key facts?
• What was the issue involved?
• What did the court decide?
• Extent of solicitors’ duty
• Client’s experience
• Bankruptcy and Land Registry searches
• Causation
• What are the implications of the decision for solicitors?

Article summary

Property analysis: What is the extent of a solicitor’s duty to its buyer client in relation to the seller’s potential credit risk? The High Court decided a firm of solicitors had given adequate advice to an experienced client in pointing out the risk. They were not under a duty to check the seller’s credit status before exchange.