The Home Buying Selling Group (HBSG) has formed an independent industry body, the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).
OPDA’s mission is to foster innovation, trust, and industry-wide collaboration and to digitise the home moving process through data.
The association aims to be the leading voice for open property data in the home buying and selling industry by supporting the creation and adoption of data and technology standards.
The association will continue to work closely with the Home Buying Selling Group to help resolve the industry’s data and technology challenges and with government departments who are committed to improving the home buying process.
Maria Harris (pictured), chair of 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.”
She continued: “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.”
Some of the key initiatives of the OPDA include the development of data standards, advocacy and education, networking and collaboration, as well as thought leadership and research.
Membership applications are now open to data, technology, and industry firms across the home buying, selling, and mortgage industry.
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 OBE, chair of HBSG, added: “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.”
