Nearly nine in ten mortgage brokers (89%) want technology to play a bigger role in streamlining the mortgage application process, up from 74% just six months ago, according to new research from Nottingham Building Society.
The latest broker survey found that nine in ten brokers (90%) say lenders are already using technology effectively to support brokers and improve the end-to-end mortgage journey. The findings suggest the debate is moving on from whether technology has a place in mortgages, to how it can make the biggest difference. Broker responses suggest they want systems that reduce friction, improve visibility and help lenders assess cases that do not fit standard affordability models.
A third of brokers (33%) say better handling of complex or non-standard cases is where technology improvements would have the greatest positive impact. Similar proportions pointed to clearer tracking of case progress (33%), better integration between broker systems and lenders (32%), and faster decision-in-principle outcomes (32%).
Nearly a third (32%) say reducing manual document submission would improve their ability to place cases. A similar proportion (31%) say more consistent underwriting decisions would make a positive difference.
Mixed views on role of AI
Nottingham BS’ research finds a cautious view from brokers on the role of AI.
One in three say they would be comfortable seeing greater use of AI or automation in document verification and administration (33%), initial affordability assessments (33%), broker-lender communications (33%), case prioritisation and triage (32%), customer journey updates and tracking (31%), and income and expenditure analysis (31%).
Brokers also see specific areas where AI could help the market. More than a fifth (22%) say AI could have its biggest positive impact in supporting regulatory and compliance checks, while around a fifth point to supporting borrowers with multiple income streams (21%) and better interpretation of income and expenditure (20%).
However, broker sentiment towards AI has shifted. In 2025, 28% of brokers fully supported AI playing a key role in the mortgage application process, while 30% said AI should have a role but be properly regulated. By 2026, 33% now say they are comfortable with greater use of AI or automation in parts of the mortgage journey, showing a modest increase in acceptance of practical AI use cases.
At the same time, some scepticism remains. In 2026, 20% of brokers say AI will not have a meaningful positive impact on the mortgage process. This compares to sentiment in 2025, where 18% said they had concerns about the use of AI in the mortgage process but were open to exploring it, 12% said they wanted to see AI used only once they were sure it was safe and properly regulated, and 8% said they did not believe AI should be involved in the mortgage process at all.
The research also found that a third of brokers (33%) believe clearer rules around the use of AI in the mortgage application process would be one of the government or regulatory changes most likely to support the UK mortgage market.
Nottingham Building Society launched its new proprietary mortgage platform, IDI (Inviting Difference In), developed in partnership with MQube and powered by its Origo technology, designed to streamline underwriting and reduce friction across the mortgage journey through AI-driven processing and automation.
The platform uses AI-driven underwriting to automate document checks and affordability assessments, only requesting additional information when needed, and is designed to deliver decisions in minutes rather than weeks.
Aaron Shinwell, Chief Lending Officer at Nottingham Building Society, said: “Technology is already making parts of the mortgage process work better, but brokers are telling us very clearly where the next wave of improvement needs to land. It has to help with the real pinch points – borrowers with complex incomes, case visibility, reducing time intensive administrative tasks and the moments where a good case can stall because the system isn’t capable of reading the full picture.
Our new IDI broker portal, developed with MQube, is a clear example of this shift in practice. By combining AI-driven underwriting with a simpler, more intuitive journey, it helps brokers progress cases faster, reduces unnecessary friction, and improves visibility across the entire application process.
AI may have a role to play, but confidence will depend on how it is used. Brokers want tools that make the process clearer and fairer, with transparency and oversight. The opportunity is to combine better technology with sound judgement, so borrowers with more complex financial lives are assessed with the care and context their circumstances deserve.”
