CWatters said: ''I was under the impression solicitors were paid to ensure you had "good title"? They should at least check with the client that they are getting the bit of land they think they are getting, even if that just means advising the client he needs a surveyor as well.''

But, as Billt said, they don't necessarily do so. 2-3 days before completion on our house 25 years ago we noted that a 'right of way' existed alongside the house. We had not noted one, so went to look (the vendor was not resident by then). The 'right of way' was te same shape as 'our' drive!

My wife went to see the neighbour, who had built two houses on what was once part of our house's garden. ''Oh yes'', he said, ''when I bought the site I didn't realise it included the bit of land next to your house. When I realised, it was too late, so I gave the land to x (our vendor)''. Errr, Ok....... How did you give him the land? ''I just said he could have it''. Wild frantic flurrying over the next 2 days got us a house which included that bit of land, but solicitors do not do a site visit, and as far as I know no questions were asked such as 'do you have full title to every single bit of land which appears to constitute your site?', so there was no way they'd know. Seems a little silly!