Contract Law Due before 7am UK time Law Essay Paper

Trevor is a bachelor and until recently owned a mixed farm extending to some 250 acres. He does not have any family who wish to take the farm over from him. As he was approaching retirement age, he recently sold the farm to Cyril who had been looking to buy a farm of his own after working as an agricultural contractor for many years. Cyril paid £1m for the farm, including the farmhouse and the land. However, Cyril did not buy Trevor’s herd of cattle, which was sold separately in a dispersal sale. Cyril’s intention was to stock the land with 800 sheep.
A Solicitor was instructed by Cyril to act on his behalf in connection with various matters in respect of the purchase. His Solicitor instructed him to instruct a land surveyor to prepare a report for him. The surveyor’s report indicated that there was nothing wrong with either the farmhouse or any of the land. However, the surveyors did advise Cyril to check out some soft ground on a field extending to some ten acres.
During a conversation which Trevor had with Cyril prior to purchase, Trevor told Cyril that the farm was “the best farm in the area and very profitable.” He also said, “I’m not a sheep farmer but I think the land will support 800 sheep.” During the same conversation Cyril queried the soft ground. Trevor told him it was soft because some of his cows had been grazing there recently after torrential rainfall.
It is now nine months after the purchase and Cyril has now found out that:
(a) The farm is not viable to support 800 sheep.
(b) The soft ground was the result of some clandestine landfilling which Trevor had carried out unbeknown to the Local Authority. This problem will cost several thousand pounds to rectify.
Cyril now wishes to rescind the contract and/or sue for damages. Advise Cyril as to his position.