Homebuyers say broken system needs reform as OPDA launches major new report

18 June 2026

Nearly four in five home movers say the homebuying process needs fundamental reform
OPDA calls on Government to accelerate plans for a modern, digital property market

Consumers have delivered a clear verdict on the homebuying process, with almost four in five saying the system needs fundamental reform, according to a major new report from the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).

The Future of Homebuying Report 2026, based on research among more than 5,000 people who have bought or sold a property in the past five years1, reveals widespread frustration with delays, poor communication and duplicated requests for information, alongside overwhelming support for digital reform.

The study found that 77.8% of respondents believe the homebuying and selling process in England and Wales requires fundamental reform, while 85% are confident it will improve over the next five years.

The report found:

43% said chasing updates and waiting for responses slowed transactions down
30% said the time taken to exchange contracts was the most challenging aspect of moving
Nearly two-thirds (64%) had to provide the same information two or three times
Almost one in five (18%) had to provide the same information four or five times
More than half (58%) had experienced a transaction falling through after an offer had been accepted, losing an average of three months in the process
One in ten transactions took more than six months to complete

Maria Harris, Chair of the Open Property Data Association, said:

"This research should serve as a wake-up call. Consumers are telling us loud and clear that the current homebuying process is no longer fit for purpose. Despite advances in technology transforming almost every aspect of our lives, buying and selling a home remains slow, fragmented and unnecessarily stressful.

"What's particularly striking is that people aren't just frustrated – they know what the solution looks like. Support for digital property packs is overwhelming and confidence in sharing information digitally continues to grow. Consumers want a system that provides upfront information, reduces duplication and gives them greater transparency and certainty throughout the transaction.

"The industry has made significant progress in developing the standards, trust frameworks and technology needed to support a modern property market. The Data (Use and Access) Act and the Government's Smart Data ambitions provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the home moving process.

"The question is no longer whether reform is needed, but how quickly it can be delivered. Government must maintain the momentum behind digital transformation and work with industry to create a faster, more transparent and more resilient housing market that works better for everyone."

The report highlights how delays, repeated requests for information and poor communication continue to undermine confidence in the housing market and limit mobility. OPDA is calling on Government to accelerate reforms by supporting digital property packs, enabling trusted data-sharing frameworks and delivering a fully digitised, end-to-end homebuying process.

The OPDA is building the framework and standards that will transform the housing market, working in collaboration with lenders, brokers, conveyancers, estate agents, technology and proptech firms, as well as Government bodies.

For more information on OPDA, visit: https://openpropdata.org.uk/.