Real estate has always relied on trust, both personal and institutional. Technology is making that trust more complex. Market participants must now judge not only the people and organisations involved in a transaction, but also the systems they use, the data those systems consume and the outputs they produce. 

The latest REvolve paper examines what trust means in a sector increasingly shaped by data and AI. It considers how growing data volumes, more complex technology supply chains and machine-generated content are making provenance, quality and accountability harder to establish. It also explores the limits of relying on human oversight when those reviewing automated outputs may not have the digital skills needed to test them effectively. 

The report identifies six areas that can help strengthen trust: professional standards and guidance, skills focused on judgement rather than tools, clear internal guardrails, transparency about the use of AI and data, collaboration across the sector and data infrastructure that allows provenance, quality and accountability to travel with information. 

Its central conclusion is clear: data and machine-generated outputs need the same foundations that support trust in professionals, including known standards, transparent processes, meaningful oversight and clear accountability. While work to build those foundations has begun, technology adoption continues to move quickly.

As a member of REvolve (the Digital Real Estate Innovation Council), Clifford Chance contributes to a wider series that brings together perspectives from across the real estate sector on the opportunities and challenges created by digital transformation.

To discuss the report, contact Melissa Jones, Head of UK Proptech.