PropTech to "digitally transform house-buying" pledges housing minister

Housing Minister Esther McVey has launched an expert advisory council that the government says is “dedicated to the digital transformation of the property sector.”

McVey met a series of PropTech figures earlier this week, with the aim of speeding up how we build and sell homes in the country.

A statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government says the new expert council will advise ministers on how to support and grow the sector further, which will make it easier and cheaper to plan, build and buy new homes.

Property entrepreneur Faisal Butt, founder and chief executive of Pi Labs - a venture capital firm supporting others to innovate in the PropTech sector - will be the first expert to sit on the minister’s new council

“We’re taking every advantage that new technology has to offer across the entire house building and house buying journey. 

“Whether that’s finding a plot of land, getting planning permission, engaging the local community, getting the property built or selling or buying a house.

“The people behind PropTech are using technology to make the process faster, simpler and cheaper. This new industry is digitally transforming the whole of the property sector, putting much more information at the public’s fingertips.

“The new PropTech dragons will provide expert advice to government on how to make the property market work better for everyone, whether it be helping homebuyers find their dream home or helping developers find the sites they need to build.”

Last month McVey hosted a roundtable discussion with PropTech figures; yesterday she added to that, meeting entrepreneurs and discussing the potential of UK PropTech.

McVey met:

- Babek Ismayil, founder of OneDome, an online platform which uses data to rate the attractiveness of specific neighbourhoods, and links prospective homebuyers with estate agents, mortgage brokers and conveyancers allowing them to complete transactions and prevent gazumping;

- Brittany Harris, co-founder and chief executive of Qflow, which is using on-site data to help the construction industry be greener and more efficient, driving down costs and minimising the environmental impact of building new homes;

- Jonny Britton, chief executive and co-founder of LandTech, a planning PropTech tool;

- and Annette Jezierska, co-founder of The Future Fox, which helps developers and local authorities to consult effectively with proposals for new homes, using technology to get a wider range of citizens to engage in the planning system and share their feedback.