The Labour Party has targeted digitising the homebuying process, saying it could shorten delays of almost five months.

The government said it would open up key property information, ensuring that data can more easily be shared amongst trusted professionals to quicken up the buying and selling process.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “By making information available at people’s fingertips, it will be far less likely for surprises to be encountered later on in the process.

“This will make it easier for people to get onto the housing ladder, reduce the requirement to share ID in-person in the long-term, and decrease the number of transactions collapsing.”

Building control and highways information are currently paper-based.

Simon Brown, chief executive, Landmark Information Group, said: “For this transformation to be truly effective, it’s essential that government and industry work together to ensure seamless implementation and ensure a wide range of industry voices are engaged in future work on this issue. We look forward to collaborating with Government to drive this forward.”

Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, said: “It is essential that full attention is turned to implementing legislation that allows for this ambition to become a reality, and that there is wide-ranging engagement to ensure all plans bring the correct levels of infrastructure and help deliver a balanced housing mix on a regional basis.

“Ultimately, to keep pace, there will need to be almost thirty thousand new homes constructed every month before summer 2029.”

“We also welcome plans to help speed up the buying and selling process via the proposal of making better use of technology.

“The housing sector will benefit enormously from digitisation, such commitment will ultimately bring vast consumer value and help streamline systems that have long needed progression.”

Via @PropertyWire