The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has called on the government to implement a coordinated, long-term housing strategy, warning that the UK property market remains vulnerable to global shocks without structural reform.
Maria Harris, chair of the OPDA, said the conflict in Iran has highlighted the market’s sensitivity to geopolitical instability.
Mortgage rates have already risen above 5%, lenders have withdrawn hundreds of products, and buyer enquiries have slowed as uncertainty spreads through the economy.
“Just as the government has recognised the need for long-term energy security, we now need a long-term housing strategy that builds resilience into the system,” Harris said. “Short term interventions can only soften the impact of global events. What we need is a modern, data driven property market that can withstand them.”
The government’s emphasis on increasing housing supply, while important, is insufficient on its own. The Office for Budget Responsibility recently projected that the UK is unlikely to meet its target of building 1.5 million homes by 2030.
The UK housing system remains outdated, slow, and heavily dependent on static documents and manual processes. The OPDA says reform will require coordinated action across three areas: leadership and standards from the OPDA, policy and infrastructure from government, and active adoption and implementation by the property sector.
A report published last week by the Department of Trade and Business found that Smart Data for homebuying could create £14.1bn in net social value and contribute £2.06bn annually to UK GDP by 2043, making it the single most economically impactful Smart Data use case across all sectors studied.
Although the government has positioned Smart Data as a cornerstone of its industrial strategy and the sector is beginning to mobilise around a digital future, Harris argues that far greater urgency is required to strengthen the resilience of the housing market.
“Global shocks will continue to test the UK housing market. While these events cannot be controlled, the efficiency and resilience of the property system can be strengthened,” she said.
“A modern, data driven property market will help maintain confidence, reduce delays and keep the market moving even during periods of uncertainty. The path forward is clear: collaboration, digital foundations and a long-term strategy that treats housing as critical national infrastructure.”
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