New research from the Open Property Data Association (OPDA) reveals overwhelming public support for digital property packs and widespread backing for fundamental reform of the home buying and selling process.
The OPDA’s Future of Homebuying Report 2026, based on research from more than 5,000 recent home movers, found that consumers are ready to embrace digital solutions to tackle the delays, uncertainty and frustration that have long plagued the home buying and selling process.
The Government published its Home Buying and Selling Roadmap last month, outlining its vision for the future of the property market. New sales packs to ensure buyers have the information they need upfront, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools are among the reforms planned.
The OPDA found 86% of recent homebuyers believe using a digital property pack is a good idea when buying or selling a property – up from 82 per cent in 2025.
Meanwhile, confidence in sharing key documents through a digital property pack has risen significantly, from 76 per cent in 2025 to 87 per cent today.
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 per cent of respondents. Faster processes and better communication ranked behind digital transformation as priorities for reform.
Despite progress, consumers recognise that more needs to be done. While 65 per cent believe the home moving process is fit for the digital age, more than three-quarters (78 per cent) say the system still requires fundamental reform.
However, there is strong optimism about the future. Some 86 per cent of respondents are confident that the home buying and selling process will improve over the next five years.
“Maria Harris, Chair of the 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.”
Maria Harris, Chair of the OPDA
The OPDA is leading efforts across the property, mortgage, and conveyancing sectors to modernise the home buying and selling process through the adoption of smart property data.
Since its launch, the 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. Those using OPDA’s data standards for digital property packs have seen the time reduced from mortgage offer and purchase accepted to exchange of contracts within 15 days.
These underlying data standards will make the Government’s digital changes technically possible.
