By Legal Futures Associate Landmark Information Group
The value of property transactions data
Data lies at the heart of every stage of a property transaction. Unreliable, duplicated or inconsistent data has the potential to create confusion, errors and legal risk. The process stalls, fall-throughs increase, and professionals are left managing avoidable delays and lost income.
Every fall-through represents lost time, lost money and for prospective homebuyers, clients and professionals: lost confidence. Shared, authenticated data standards would allow property professionals to work from the same verified and trusted information, creating a virtuous circle of trust and, ultimately, a better bottom line.
The Government’s 5 core objectives
With change desperately needed, it is encouraging to see the Government unveil its proposals for new measures to radically reform the property industry. The plan is to speed up property transactions by making the process of buying and selling homes faster, more efficient and more streamlined.
An industry-wide consultation is now ongoing, with a finalised roadmap for change due in 2026, underpinned by five core objectives. Property data will play a crucial role in defining and delivering these goals. However, success will depend on collaboration between government and industry with every organisation aligning behind a shared commitment to accuracy and interoperability.
Speedier transactions
It is no secret that faster transactions are not only coveted by consumers and stakeholders but are wholly required to boost everything from social mobility to the country’s economy. Stakeholders perennially tell us that their number one frustration is the length of time it takes to complete a transaction and that speeding up the process would have the biggest impact on productivity.
Much of the information needed for a property transaction is fragmented, creating duplication and delays. That’s where data interoperability and common sharing standards come to the fore. If we can agree, as an industry, on how core information is defined and exchanged, we can finally move beyond the bottlenecks that have long constrained progress and make the home buying process easier for all.
Reduced fall throughs
Timing is key when it comes to the collation and sharing of property data in the UK, particularly if we want to significantly reduce fall-throughs. A case in point is the early instruction of a seller-side conveyancer. The upshot of which is verified data can be collated from the get-go. For many agents and conveyancers, this may feel like a seismic cultural shift. However, for others, it is already common practice. Moreover, the data shows it is working.
South Yorkshire estate agent, and founding member of Project 28: A Charter for faster, more certain property transactions, Redbrik, is a leading exponent of this approach. Their Securemove process ensures the seller instructs a solicitor and prepares key legal documents upfront. When a sale is agreed, the buyer can choose to enter into a reservation agreement and pays a non-refundable fee, securing the property and a period of exclusivity. The results have been impressive, with 33% faster completions and a 30% reduction in fall-throughs.
Higher professional standards
One of the stated goals of the reforms is to ensure competence and accountability across the sector. A key area of focus for the Government is to professionalise property agents, with the consultation citing ‘low trust, a lack of qualifications, and the absence of minimum professional standards’ as ongoing challenges. Proposed interventions include mandatory minimum qualifications and a Code of Practice that sets out minimum standards expected of all residential property agents.
Delivering an exceptional service is also dependent on a fair and sustainable fee. Our research shows that most consumers would be willing to pay an upfront fee to an estate agent (75%) or a conveyancer (71%) if it meant they could access and share key data with those in the transaction process more efficiently1. The message is clear: a ‘quality fee for a quality service’ is an amenable option for enabling clients receive the support, transparency, and efficiency they expect and deserve.
Better informed consumers
Another aim of the reforms is to ensure consumers are better informed with the help of ‘accuracy and greater transparency’. The consultation cites a paucity of support and a perceived lack of public understanding about how best to select the right agent or conveyancer for their needs. Our research corroborates this assertion, with 24% of consumers telling us that finding a reliable and affordable conveyancer was one of their biggest worries during their last house move2.
Possible solutions floated by the Government include publishing transparent details about performance, processes and specialisms, and publishing a charter with an accompanying accreditation system. Similarly, a recognisable brand mark could be adopted and displayed to help consumers identify best practice. An obvious parallel is the British Standards Institution’s BSI Kitemark. According to the BSI, the Kitemark is recognised by 67% of UK consumers, with 70% “more confident” in products that carry it3. Imagine what similar levels of confidence could have for property firms operating under a recognisable seal of approval.
Improved trust and confidence in the system
The data points to a picture of overall dissatisfaction amongst consumers when it comes to the UK housing market. According to recent research by Barclays, only a quarter (26%) of consumers feel confident in the system4. Renters are included in these findings and are far likelier than homeowners to feel disenfranchised with the system, as rising costs inhibit the ability to save for a deposit or afford as home in their area. Is it any wonder that more than a quarter (28%) of renters reported being uninterested in homeownership as a result5?
Gen-Z represents a major proportion of UK renters and is emerging as a significant force in the property market. Integrating upfront digital data sharing not only streamlines transactions but also resonates with Gen-Z’s expectations for speed and certainty. The sector must continue to embrace innovative technology, foster transparency, and deliver service models that reflect the values and behaviours of this new generation to nurture trust and confidence through to homeownership.
Property data in harmony with process transformations
Data, AI, automation and other technological developments are only as effective as the process they serve. Layering technology onto inefficient processes will only serve to amplify the issue. To that end, there are cultural and systemic transformations that need to take place in tandem with, and supported by, relevant property data and supporting tech.
One process-driven cultural shift could be the review of conveyancer Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Rather than dispatching contract packs within a rigid timeframe after a sale is agreed, what if they were only sent once all the essential information was properly gathered? By allowing conveyancers more time to collate all the necessary documentation and ensure its completeness, the risk of missing or inaccurate information would be greatly reduced.
This approach could minimise repeated requests for missing details, costly delays and potential fall-throughs further down the line. This would support a smoother journey, aligning with the broader industry goal of achieving faster, more certain transactions through reliable, upfront digital data. Like the early instruction of a seller-side conveyancer, this type of cultural shift will unlock new efficiencies that data and innovative technologies can then enhance.
Project 28: A pledge to revolutionise the property sector
As a lynchpin of the UK property ecosystem, Landmark has played a pivotal role in creating a bold blueprint to fix our inefficient property transaction process. Our aim, with the help of our industry colleagues, is to revolutionise the property sector by placing trusted property transactions data at the heart of the process to achieve faster, more certain property transactions.
The Project 28 Charter pledges eight industry-led commitments that neatly dovetail with the government’s core objectives to create meaningful change across the property industry. It demonstrates that there is not only real intent, but practical steps being taken by the industry to fix what is in our gift. Allied with the government’s proposed reforms and consultation, 2026 feels like a pivotal year.
Change is coming and if we can shift cultural mindsets, adapt entrenched processes, and place accurate property data at the heart of every transaction, we stand the best possible chance of building trust, driving efficiency, and shaping a more resilient future for the UK housing market.
