Brokers are being urged to get ready for the transition to a smart property data market.
The call comes as work gets underway on the Smart Property Data Trust Framework sandbox, a government-backed project designed to test the technical, governance and security foundations needed for a modern, data-centric property market.
Funded by a £742,700 award from the Government’s Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, the 12-month project is being delivered by theCouncil for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) in partnership with the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), with support fromRaidiam and oversight from the Digital Property Market Steering Group (DPMSG).
The sandbox is a safe, controlled environment to test how trusted property data can be securely accessed, shared and reused between accredited participants such as estate agents, conveyancers, lenders, brokers, search providers and technology firms.
It marks a significant step away from today’s document-heavy, fragmented processes towards structured data, shared standards and interoperability.
Maria Harris, Chair of OPDA, said: “We’ve been talking about the digitisation of the property market for a long time, but with this project, the vision starts to become a reality. The sandbox approach means the transition from digital property data to smart property data is not just theory but a live proof-of-concept.
“Digitising property transactions isn’t just about moving forms online. Without common standards, clear governance and trusted data sharing, we simply replicate existing inefficiencies in digital form. Trust frameworks provide the foundation that allows data to flow safely and reliably across the ecosystem, with confidence for both consumers and professionals.”
The sandbox project is testing real-world use cases, including data provenance, consent management, secure APIs, role definitions and liability models. Findings will be shared publicly, helping the sector understand how trust frameworks can reduce duplication, improve transaction certainty and unlock automation across the property and mortgage lifecycle.
DPMSG, a coalition of regulators, government bodies and industry organisations, including the OPDA, is playing a central role in aligning industry innovation with regulatory and consumer protection expectations.
Brokers are now being encouraged to get involved to help shape the future of the housing market. This includes industry firms engaging with the development of the sandbox, being actively involved in the testing and working groups, and beginning to assess how their businesses handle property data today.
Firms should consider where manual, document-based processes should be replaced by structured data, how their systems will adopt the emerging standards, and what governance and verification requirements they will need to meet.
“Now is the time to get involved,” Maria added. “The sandbox is an opportunity for the industry to shape how smart property data works in practice and the user experience for consumers and property professionals. Early engagement will help firms prepare for a more efficient, transparent and trusted property market.”
Further updates and opportunities to participate will be shared by OPDA, CLC and DPMSG as the project progresses.
