The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has released a new version of its property data standards framework to help letting agents comply with new guidance.
This followed the launch of its framework February; the latest version was updated to provide tools to simplify agents’ compliance processes with the National Trading Standards Material Information for Lettings guidance.
OPDA members have worked with several existing companies in the lettings industry on the latest move.
The National Trading Standards Parts B and C, published at the end of last year, means listing properties has become significantly easier using digital property data – however, the data must be properly provenanced so it can be safely re-used.
OPDA’s framework was created to provide this reassurance by tracing where each data item is from so that users can verify and evidence sources.
The framework is freely available to the property industry and its software providers, from estate agents, through to lawyers, lenders and brokers, without restrictive proprietary licences.
Ed Molyneux, chief technical officer at Moverly, an OPDA member, said: “This latest release so soon after the previous version is evidence that the industry can really make progress on these vital open standards when we all work together collaboratively.
“We are rapidly incorporating more opportunities to streamline many different processes within the property industry – Material Information for Lettings in this release – which will allow tools to really simplify estate agents’ compliance processes.
“At Moverly we’re really on board with the new framework and are seeing first hand how much impact it has for our customers.”
The new version framework also includes improvements in its support for the National Trading Standards for sales based on feedback from agents.
It will tackle digital conveyancing, lending and completion next.
The release of the new version of the framework comes after Lloyds Banking Group joined OPDA this month.
The association is also working with Government, through the Digital Property Market Steering Group and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to encourage the adoption of open data standards.