OPDA comments on homebuying and selling reform

19 June 2026

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

"Today's announcement represents a significant step towards fixing a homebuying process that has been crying out for reform for decades. Customers have made it clear that the current process isn't fit for purpose and doesn't meet their expectations. We welcome the government's commitment to creating a modern, digital-first property market that puts homebuyers and sellers at the heart of the process.

Providing key information upfront through digital sales packs, introducing earlier binding agreements and embracing technologies such as digital identity checks and AI-assisted conveyancing are exactly the kinds of changes needed to deliver faster transactions, greater transparency and fewer fall-throughs. Smart data has the power to transform how we buy and sell property, creating safer and more secure processes, reducing duplication and raising standards across the sector. The government's recognition of our work to prove that not only is this achievable, it fundamentally transforms the process, is testament to our ongoing collaboration.

OPDA's latest Future of Homebuying report found that 86% of home movers support the introduction of a digital property pack, demonstrating the clear appetite among consumers for a better way of moving home. People want certainty, transparency and access to the information they need from the outset, and with 87% of consumers happy to share their data for a better process, these reforms will help deliver that.

The time for change is now. OPDA has been laying the foundations for the future of the property market through the development of free and open smart property data standards and by bringing together lenders, conveyancers, estate agents, technology firms, regulators and government. We are pleased to see many of the principles we have long championed reflected in these proposals.

International examples have already shown what can be achieved through digitisation and data sharing. By working collaboratively across the industry, we have an opportunity to build a modern, fit-for-purpose property system that works better for everyone, improves the emotional and financial wellbeing of consumers and supports a more sustainable and efficient housing market."