OPDA research finds UK consumers ‘open’ to using digital property packs

New research by the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), a trade association, has found that while consumers support the idea of ‘Digital Property Packs’, a lack of accessible and reliable information highlights the work still required to move to digital property transactions.

The research revealed a gap in perception versus reality, given that 64% of consumers believe that at least 21% of property information is already available digitally.

However, according to the OPDA, in reality, less than 1% of this data is readily accessible in a truly digital format.

The research also showed that 82% of consumers support the idea of ‘Digital Property Packs’, while 77% said they would use one if available.

Of those consumers surveyed, 15% cited government or regulator guidance on data sharing as the top factor that would increase their confidence in using ‘Digital Property Packs’.

Maria Harris, chair, Open Property Data Association

Maria Harris, chair of OPDA, said: “The property market is long overdue for transformation. Our research shows that consumers are not only open to digital property packs, but are actively calling for them.

“With the Government’s commitment to digitisation, now is the time to push forward and ensure that buyers and sellers have the safe and trusted information they need at their fingertips.”

The proposed ‘Digital Property Packs’ will enable buyers and sellers to access, verify, and share critical property information upfront, which should ensure smoother transactions, and a reduction in fall-through rates, improving overall trust in the process.

Phil Spencer, founder of property advice website Move iQ, said the reseacrch highlights what many in the property industry have known for years – “the data we rely on just isn’t easily accessible, and too often, it’s in formats that are outdated, unreliable, or difficult to share safely”.

He added: “This initiative with clearer protocols for property data could be a game-changer for the way we buy and sell homes in the future. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but these steps mark a real shift in how the industry and government work together to improve the process.”

In February, the UK government unveiled plans to fully digitalise the home buying and selling process to make it “fit for the 21^st Century” and provide certainty to all parties involved in property transactions.

The government said that enabling data sharing in property transactions will make it easier for people to get onto the housing ladder, as well as reduce the requirement to share ID in-person in the long-term and drive down the number of transactions that collapse.

Marion King, chair of Open Banking Limited

Marion King, chair and trustee at Open Banking Limited, called Open Banking “the blueprint” for what is possible in other sectors.

“By enabling secure, consent-driven data sharing, Open Banking has transformed financial services—delivering greater transparency, efficiency, and competition,” King said.

“This same approach can unlock similar benefits in areas like digital property packs, streamlining transactions, reducing friction, and ultimately improving consumer outcomes.”

She added: “As we’ve seen in financial services, when data moves seamlessly, markets work better for everyone.”

The research is based on a survey of 5,000 homebuyers and sellers who had bought or sold in the past five years, as well as views sought by OPDA from 336 of its own contacts.

Further reading: NatWest Group commits to digitising homebuying by joining OPDA