The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) is calling on organisations to respond to the government’s newly launched consultation on smart data schemes to help shape the future design of property data sharing.
The Smart Data Multi-Sector Call for Evidence, published by the Department for Business and Trade, seeks views on how smart data schemes could be developed across a number of sectors, including property, and will inform future policy development, scheme design and potential regulatory proposals.
OPDA, which leads the development of the technical standards and trust framework that underpin smart property data sharing, is encouraging participation from organisations across the property, conveyancing, mortgage, lending, legal, surveying, valuation, insurance, technology and public sectors.
Smart data allows consumers and businesses to securely access, share and use their data through common standards and trust frameworks. In the property market, OPDA says smart data has the potential to power the secure and timely sharing of property related information, which the organisation says will reduce transaction delays, improve certainty for consumers and “lay the foundations for a fully digital and connected home buying and home ownership experience”.
Maria Harris, chair of OPDA, explained: “The government is seeking evidence on how smart data should be applied across a number of sectors, including property, and it is vital that our industry engages with that process.
“Too often we hear stakeholders say they weren’t aware that consultations were taking place or that decisions were made without sufficient industry input. This is the opportunity to make your voice heard.
“The home buying and selling roadmap has established a clear direction of travel for property transactions. Smart data is one of the mechanisms that turns that vision into reality by enabling secure and trusted access to the information that consumers, professionals and organisations need.”
The smart data programme is broader in scope than the government’s home buying and selling roadmap, OPDA explained. It will explore how trusted data sharing frameworks can support a wide range of property-related use cases and services across the entire property ecosystem.
The association warns that without strong industry engagement, important decisions about future property data frameworks risk being made without sufficient input from the organisations responsible for delivering services to consumers.
While Harris acknowledges the growing number of initiatives relating to digital property data can sometimes create uncertainty about where responsibility sits, she stresses the importance of maintaining engagement.
“Property is a complex ecosystem and there are many organisations, working groups, industry bodies and government departments involved in different aspects of data, digitisation and reform”, she said.
“We recognise that this can sometimes feel confusing for stakeholders.
“What is important to understand is that the government’s smart data programme provides the overarching legislative, policy and governance framework through which data-sharing schemes will be launched.
“The work being undertaken across the property sector – including the delivery of the home buying and selling roadmap and the development of smart property data standards – can help inform how those smart data schemes are designed and implemented.
“That is why we are encouraging every organisation with an interest in shaping the future of property data to read the consultation and submit a response.”
OPDA is calling on organisations of all sizes to review the consultation and submit evidence, use cases and practical insights based on their experience of property transactions, data sharing, digital maturity, and customer outcomes.
The Smart Data Multi-Sector Call for Evidence is open until 1 October 2026.
