Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.
OPDA Report Highlights Lack of Visibility in UK Homebuying Process
A recent report from the OPDA, titled 'The Future of Homebuying 2026', reveals that 43% of consumers believe the biggest cause of delays in the homebuying process is having to chase updates and wait for responses from other parties. The report also found that 66% of people have been put off moving again due to these frustrations.
The findings indicate that consumers are not only concerned about the length of property transactions, but also about the lack of transparency and visibility throughout the process. Many buyers feel that progress often disappears behind closed doors, with little indication of where things stand, who is responsible for the next action, or what is causing delays.
The report highlights that the boundaries between organisations involved in a property transaction—such as mortgage brokers, lenders, conveyancers, surveyors, and estate agents—are often invisible to consumers. When communication breaks down or information needs to be resubmitted, the process feels inefficient, regardless of where the issue originates.
According to the OPDA report, almost two-thirds of respondents were asked to provide the same information two or three times, and nearly one in five were asked four or five times. This repetition suggests that data is not moving effectively between participants, creating unnecessary friction and increasing the likelihood of delays.
The government’s recent homebuying and selling reforms have recognised these challenges, with proposed measures aimed at improving the quality, availability, and flow of information throughout the transaction. While the industry has made efforts to digitise and automate individual parts of the journey, the report suggests that these improvements do not always address the wider challenge of providing consumers with clear updates on their transaction status.
For UK letting agents and inventory clerks, the report underscores the importance of transparency and efficient information sharing in property transactions. Consumers increasingly expect real-time updates and clarity about next steps, rather than having to piece together information from multiple sources.
Source: Mortgage Strategy