The Home Buying and Selling Group (HBSG) has formed an independent industry body, the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), for companies revolutionising the property industry through data collaboration. 

OPDA’s mission is to foster innovation, trust, and industry-wide collaboration and to digitise the home moving process through data. 

It will continue to work closely with the HBSG to understand and resolve the industry’s data and technology challenges and with government departments.

 

The group will aim to drive adoption of common standards, promote data sharing best practices, and innovation.

It membership comes from a broad range of firms covering all areas of property transactions including proptech start-ups, CRM and case management platforms, connectivity and integration partners, property data providers, property insight platforms, and other entities involved in property data. These firms represent the data and technology solutions across the home buying industry for consumers, estate agents, mortgage intermediaries, mortgage lenders, valuers, and conveyancers.

The ongoing maintenance, development, and governance of the Property Data Trust Framework will also move to OPA.

Maria Harris, chair of the OPDA, said: “The quality and volume of work that our volunteer group has delivered over the last two years has been nothing short of monumental so I’m thrilled to be taking us onto the next stage of our evolution. 

“By harnessing the power of data and fostering collaboration, we have an incredible opportunity to drive innovation, improve decision-making, and create a more transparent and efficient property ecosystem.

“Formalising the group as a trade association gives us the structure and governance we need to drive further innovation and represent our members interests relating to open property and technology standards with policy makers, regulators, other trade bodies, and industry stakeholders.”

Organisations and firms interested in joining the association are invited to visit www.openpropdata.org.uk for more information and to submit their application. 

Kate Faulkner, chair of the HBSG, said: “The HBSG generates some fantastic collaboration and innovation from those in the home moving process who are determined and passionate to improve the home buying and selling process.

“The Technology Group has delivered exceptional work and now there is an agreed way forward, industry experts need to be able to fund progress to ensure their practical ideas can be implemented for buyers and sellers. 

“The HBSG will continue to provide free participation to enable everyone that wishes to put forward and progress ways to solve the problems in the home buying and selling process.”