The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) and The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration and drive digital transformation across the home buying and selling process.

The agreement, which formalises a new partnership between the two organisations, commits both to promoting open data standards, improving interoperability between systems and advancing a more transparent, efficient and consumer-focused property market.

Both OPDA and the SLC have been vocal supporters of reform and innovation within the sector. Under the new arrangement, they will work together to identify areas where digital frameworks and shared data standards can reduce duplication, cut transaction times and improve trust among buyers and sellers.

CRUCIAL ROLE

Maria Harris, chair of OPDA, said: “The SLC plays a crucial role in representing conveyancers at the heart of the home buying process and we’re delighted to be working together to help deliver a more digital and connected property market.

“Through this partnership, we’ll be able to align our efforts to make data more accessible and interoperable, reduce friction between stakeholders and ultimately make moving home simpler and more transparent for everyone involved.”

The Memorandum of Understanding forms part of OPDA’s wider push to encourage cross-industry cooperation, bringing together professionals from estate agency, conveyancing, surveying, lending and technology to create an open, trusted framework for property data.

The SLC said that it was vital for conveyancers to play an active role in the development of open data standards to ensure the digital property ecosystem evolves with the profession’s input.

IMPORTANT STEP

The Society said the agreement marks an important step in ensuring that licensed conveyancers’ experience and perspective inform national efforts to modernise the system.

Simon Law, chairperson of the SLC, said: “OPDA has come a long way in a relatively short period of time, and the Association will make a very important contribution to the government’s clear intent to streamline the home buying and selling process.

“SLC members’ firms are at the forefront of adoption of enabling technology and it makes eminently good sense for the Society to contribute to OPDA’s work.”