What does the phrase caveat emptor mean?

• A. The seller is responsible for discovering all relevant issues which might affect the decision to purchase
• B. The conveyancer is responsible for disclosing defects
• C. There is no responsibility to disclose issues
• D. The buyer is responsible for discovering all relevant issues which might affect their decision to purchase

Answer: (D)

Caveat emptor means “let the buyer beware.” It places the risk on the buyer in a sale, so the buyer must carry out due diligence to identify any defects or issues that could affect their purchase. In practice, this means you should investigate the property, review surveys and title documents, ask questions, and consider professional advice, rather than assuming the seller or professionals will disclose every problem. The principle acknowledges that there can be seller disclosures or statutory duties in some situations, and misrepresentation or known latent defects can give rise to liability, but the overarching idea is that the buyer bears the responsibility to discover relevant issues. This is why the statement that the buyer is responsible for discovering all relevant issues best fits the concept.