Nearly nine in ten mortgage brokers (89%) want technology to play a greater role in streamlining the mortgage application process, up from 74% just six months ago, according to new research from Nottingham Building Society.
The latest survey of 500 brokers across the country shows that nine in ten (90%) see that lenders are already using technology effectively to support brokers and improve the end-to-end mortgage journey.
But the findings suggest the debate is moving from whether technology has a place in mortgages, to how it can make the biggest difference. Brokers’ responses show they want systems that reduce friction, improve visibility and help lenders assess issues that don’t fit into standard affordability models.
A third of brokers (33%) say there is better handling of complex or non-standard cases technological improvements would have the greatest positive impact. Similar percentages indicated clearer tracking of case progress (33%), better integration between broker systems and lenders (32%) and faster decisions in principle (32%).
Nearly a third (32%) say reducing manual submissions would improve their ability to post cases. A similar percentage (31%) say more consistent underwriting decisions would make a positive difference.
The research by Nottingham BS shows that brokers have a cautious view of the role of AI.
One in three say they would be comfortable with increased use of AI or automation in document verification and administration (33%), initial affordability assessments (33%), broker-lender communications (33%), case prioritization and triage (32%), customer journey updates and tracking (31%) and revenue and expense analysis (31%).
Brokers see specific areas where AI could help the market. More than a fifth (22%) say AI could have the biggest positive impact in supporting regulatory and compliance controls, while around a fifth point to supporting borrowers with multiple income streams (21%) and better interpretation of income and expenses (20%).
However, brokers’ sentiment towards AI has changed. By 2025, 28% of brokers were fully in favor of AI playing a key role in the mortgage application process, while 30% said AI should play a role but should 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 adoption of practical AI use cases.
At the same time, some skepticism remains. By 2026, 20% of brokers say AI will not have a meaningful positive impact on the mortgage process. This is similar to sentiment in 2025, where 18% said they were concerned about the use of AI in the mortgage process but were open to exploring it, 12% said they did not want to see AI used until they were confident it was safe and well regulated, and 8% said they did not think AI should be involved in the mortgage process at all.
The research also shows that a third of brokers (33%) believe that clearer rules around the use of AI in the mortgage application process would be one of the government or regulatory changes likely to support the UK mortgage market.
Commenting on the latest research, Aaron Shinwell, head of lending at Nottingham BS, said: “Technology is already making parts of the mortgage process work better, but brokers are telling us very clearly where the next wave of improvements should land. It should help with the real pressure points: borrowers with complex incomes, business visibility, reducing time-intensive administrative tasks and the moments when a good business stalls because the system is unable to read the full picture.”
He added: “AI can play a role, but trust 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 good judgment, so that borrowers with more complex financial lives are assessed with the care and context their circumstances deserve.”