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With a new development there may be numerous complex documents to go through: registered title, old conveyances with restrictions and rights of way, planning agreement(s), planning consents, adoption agreements, wayleaves etc as well as the draft contract and a 40+ page lease. There is no way a competent solicitor can do the job for the sort of fees most clients are willing to pay for the biggest purchase of their life.

"Pet" solicitors can at least spread the cost of reading everything properly if they know they will get a number of instructions. However, there is a real risk of conflict of interest and the position is less than satisfactory. Until buyers are prepared to pay their solicitors at least the 1 1/2 to 2% they are willing to pay the agent (who does not have to read and report on documents) the problem will not go away.

Mark Adcock's idea is good but will buyers pay more for the lender's solicitor to do the job the poorly paid buyer's solicitor cannot do? Even then, as has been noted, many clients do not read properly what is sent to them, do not ask if they don't understand and assume "It's OK as my solicitor has looked at it!"