Raymond Perry's survey of the problems created by Cottingham serves wide consideration by the profession (see [2004] Gazette, 4 March, 35).

On the same day that I received the Gazette, I received the current edition of Estate Agency News, containing a letter from an estate agent blaming the lawyers for all delays in conveyancing.

The gentleman, claimed that this had been the situation for the past 40 years.

I will resist the temptation to comment on his knowledge of the difficulties we now encounter on the legal side of selling or buying a house.

I have always thought that the one good feature about the proposed home information packs was the preparation of the legal and planning documents before a property was marketed.

Mr Perry's observations reinforce that view.

The only problem that I encounter over planning permissions, and so on, is the failure of the client to keep copies.

I am not sure that I know an easy solution to this problem.

However, it may be salutary to remind clients that if they do not keep the originals carefully, the copies will be expensive.

Hastings Borough Council has recently charged this firm 56 for copies of two planning permissions and one copy of a building regulations approval.

Gerald Funnell, Funnell & Perring, Hastings, East Sussex