Upfront Information and Digital Property Logbooks: The Future of Home Buying

For decades, home movers have accepted that uncertainty and delay are simply “part of the process.”
Buyers make offers before knowing the full picture, sellers complete endless forms, and professionals repeat the same checks time and again. The result? Lost time, lost trust, and too many failed sales.

The government’s Home Buying and Selling Reform Consultation, launched in October 2025, sets out a new direction — one that places data, transparency, and technology at the heart of a more efficient property market.

At the centre of this shift are two big ideas: upfront information and digital property logbooks.

Why Upfront Information Matters

Under the current system, much of the information a buyer needs to make an informed decision only becomes available after an offer is accepted.
By that stage, both parties are emotionally and financially committed, and any surprise — from restrictive covenants to leasehold conditions — can derail the transaction entirely.

The consultation proposes that sellers, working with estate agents and conveyancers, provide a standardised set of property information before listing, including:

• Legal and title information

• Leasehold details and building safety data

• Property condition and energy performance

• Standard searches such as local authority and environmental reports

The aim is simple: to make sure everyone knows what they’re buying and selling from the outset.

This is an approach the HBSC has been advocating for years. Through the development of the BASPI dataset (Buying and Selling Property Information), the Council has worked with industry and government partners to define a “single source of truth” — a consistent, trusted dataset that can be shared safely across systems and professions.

From Paper to Digital: The Rise of the Property Logbook

Upfront information is only part of the picture. Once that data is collected, it needs to be stored, shared, and updated securely — which is where digital property logbooks come in.

These digital records provide a verified history of a property: title details, planning history, warranties, safety certificates, and condition reports.
They can be linked to the property’s Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) and shared digitally with estate agents, conveyancers, lenders, and surveyors through secure data standards.

Used correctly, property logbooks could:

• Reduce duplication and prevent data loss between transactions

• Support digital conveyancing and e-signatures

• Improve transparency for buyers and sellers

• Enable faster completion times and fewer fall-throughs

HBSC has supported this vision through its work with the Digital Property Market Steering Group (DPMSG) and partners including HM Land Registry and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) — developing the frameworks that make these digital systems interoperable and secure.

Trust and Verification Are Key

The government has been clear that any move toward digitalisation must be built on trust and professional validation.
The CABE background note summarising the consultation highlights that upfront information must be “validated by professionals, not only seller declarations.”
That means surveyors, conveyancers, and agents will all play a vital role in ensuring data accuracy and reliability.

For professionals, this offers both opportunity and responsibility — a chance to provide new digital services and help consumers navigate their move with confidence.

How Reform Could Change the Experience

The potential impact of these proposals is significant:

• Transactions are up to six weeks faster

• Fall-through rates reduced from one in three to one in seven

• Savings of up to £710 for first-time buyers

For the wider industry, this could finally end the cycle of duplicated effort and wasted time. For consumers, it means a clearer, simpler, and more transparent home move.

What Happens Next

The consultation, open until 29 December 2025, is a key opportunity for the property sector to shape how upfront information and digital property data will work in practice.
The HBSC will continue to coordinate responses, gather evidence, and ensure that reforms are practical, proportionate, and built around the consumer experience.

As Kate Faulkner OBE, Chair of the HBSC, explains:

“We’ve spent years gathering feedback from professionals and home movers, testing ideas, and identifying what really works. Now we have the chance to make it happen.”

Have Your Say

Take part in the government consultation before 29 December 2025:
Respond now on GOV.UK 

Learn More
Explore the Home Moving Reform Toolkit and see how HBSC is supporting collaboration across the industry.
Visit the Toolkit