Estate agents are being encouraged to take part in a government consultation that could help shape how property data is shared across the home buying and selling process.
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) is urging property professionals across the sector to respond to the Department for Business and Trade’s Smart Data Multi-Sector Call for Evidence, which seeks views on how Smart Data schemes could be developed across a range of industries, including property.
The consultation, which closes on 1 October 2026, will inform future government policy, scheme design and potential regulation.
Smart Data enables consumers and businesses to securely access and share data using common standards. In the property sector, it could support faster exchange of information and reduce delays during the home buying and selling process.
The consultation follows publication of the Government’s Home Buying and Selling Roadmap, which sets out proposals to increase digitisation, improve interoperability and introduce standardised data sharing across property transactions.
While the roadmap focuses on buying and selling, the Smart Data programme has a wider scope, looking at how trusted data-sharing frameworks could support services across the property sector.
The OPDA is inviting responses from estate agents, lenders, conveyancers, surveyors, valuers, insurers, technology firms and public sector organisations.
The association says industry feedback will help inform the development of future property data standards and frameworks.
Maria Harris, chair of the OPDA, said: “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.”
Harris acknowledged the growing number of initiatives relating to digital property data can sometimes create uncertainty about where responsibility sits but stressed 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. We recognise that this can sometimes feel confusing for stakeholders,” she said.
“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.”
The government’s Smart Data Multi-Sector Call for Evidence can be accessed here.
