OPDA reaction to Angela Rayner's return
21 July 2026
Maria Harris, chair of the Open Property Data Association (OPDA):
"Angela Rayner’s return to the housing brief should be welcomed across the sector. She has a strong understanding of the challenges facing the housing market, a genuine passion for housing policy, and had already begun building constructive relationships with industry stakeholders before leaving the role. That existing knowledge and engagement should allow her to hit the ground running.
"At a time when the housing market needs confidence and certainty, the priority must be stability and continuity. We would particularly welcome the continued leadership and support of Baroness Taylor and Victoria Latham at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), whose experience and understanding of the housing reform agenda will be invaluable in maintaining momentum and ensuring progress is not lost during the transition.
"The industry now needs to see the government follow through on its commitments to modernise the homebuying process through Smart Data and wider digital transformation. The economic case for reform is compelling with Smart Data for homebuying estimated to create £14.1 billion in net social value and contribute £2.06 billion annually to UK GDP by 2043, making it the single most economically impactful Smart Data use case across all sectors studied.
"There is also clear public support for change. The OPDA’s Future of Homebuying 2026 report, published last month, found widespread backing for digital reform of the property market, reflecting growing consumer expectations for a faster, more transparent, and less stressful homebuying experience.
"With a second chance at the role she was clearly committed too, and with firsthand experience of how complex property transactions can be, Angela Rayner has the opportunity to bring compassion and a personal touch. With the recent MHCLG roadmap announcement, she can build on the foundations already laid and help deliver reforms that will benefit consumers, businesses, and the wider economy. We look forward to working with her and her team to ensure these commitments are delivered with the full support, collaboration and technical expertise of our industry and that the modernisation of the homebuying process remains a government priority."
