There is widespread support amongst consumers for digital property packs and fundamental reform of the home buying and selling process, according to a new survey by the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).
OPDA’s Future of Homebuying Report 2026, based on research from more than 5,000 recent home movers, found 86% of respondents believe using a digital property pack is a good idea when buying or selling a property, up from 82% in 2025.
The survey showed increasing confidence in sharing key documents through a digital property pack, rising from 76% of respondents to the same question in 2025 to 87% in the latest research.
The survey comes in the wake of the government’s home buying and selling roadmap last month, which outlined the vision for the future of the property market. Changes to the system include digital sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, data repositories in the form of property logbooks, and earlier binding agreements.
Despite progress, the survey suggests consumers recognise more needs to be done. While 65% believe the home moving process is fit for the digital age, more than three-quarters (78%) said the system still requires fundamental reform. When asked what single change would have the biggest impact on improving the home buying process, digitalisation emerged as the clear winner, chosen by 40% of respondents.
Faster processes and better communication ranked behind digital transformation as priorities for reform.
The research also showed optimism for the future, with 86% of respondents confident the home buying and selling process will improve over the next five years.
Maria Harris, chair of OPDA, said: “The government’s home buying and selling roadmap sends a clear signal that the future of property transactions must be digital, transparent and consumer focused. What is particularly encouraging is that consumers are already ahead of the curve.
“Our research shows overwhelming support for digital property packs and a clear appetite for the modernisation of the home buying and selling process. People want access to reliable information upfront, greater certainty and fewer surprises during a transaction.
“Consumers should not settle for a system that leaves them waiting for critical information until weeks or months into the process. They deserve digital property packs, early conveyancer instruction, and access to the information they need from the outset. The government has set the direction, and consumers are fully behind these plans. Now we must work together as an industry to make that vision a reality.”
OPDA acknowledges the previous attempt at upfront information, home information packs, or HIPs, cast a lasting shadow over the property sector, but says the industry had learnt lessons from the past.
“Home information packs were introduced before the technology, data standards and industry infrastructure existed to make them truly effective”, said Harris.
“Today, the situation is completely different. Smart data, open standards and secure digital sharing mean information can be provided accurately, consistently and in ways that genuinely improve outcomes for buyers and sellers.”
Since its launch, OPDA has delivered open property data standards and models for trustable and shareable data. The free and open-source tools have been created and tested in collaboration with every sector across the property industry and OPDA says it underlying data standards will make the government’s digital changes technically possible.
