Buying a house is an expensive  and stressful process which is made more so in England because buyers and seller can withdraw at any time until the exchange of contracts. For example a buyer could put in an offer and even months down the line find another property they prefer and pull out of the verbal agreement. The seller, in the meantime could have spent thousands on legal fees, arranged removal firms etc etc and any expenses are non refundable. Clearly this can work both ways.

It is time to introduce a system similar to that which operates in Scotland where the offer to purchase a property must come from a solicitor and a penalty is paid if the contract does not go through.