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The cosy relationship between some solicitors and any enterprise that is the source of volume conveyancing instructions is a longstanding problem. Aside from cases of solicitors recommended by developers failing to point out onerous lease terms, this unrecognised conflict of interest also results lots of examples of property buyers ending up as victims of outright fraud; Look at Morris Properties, Harlequin, the Giambrone cases, et al.

The public needs to understand that it is never a good idea to instruct an adviser (whether solicitor or surveyor) on the recommendation of anyone who has an interest in the transaction completing. Unfortunately it is likely that there will still be lots of naive buyers who will not realise, until it is too late, that 'free legals' can prove to be the most costly.