Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.

Brokers Call for Smarter Tech in Mortgages, But AI Remains Divisive

Nearly nine in ten UK mortgage brokers want technology to play a bigger role in streamlining the mortgage application process, according to new research from Nottingham Building Society. However, broker opinions on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the mortgage journey remain divided.

The survey of 500 brokers found that 89% want more technology involved in the mortgage process, an increase from 74% six months ago. Additionally, 90% of brokers believe lenders are already using technology effectively to support brokers and improve the end-to-end mortgage journey.

Brokers identified several areas where technology could have the greatest positive impact. A third (33%) highlighted better handling of complex or non-standard cases, while similar proportions pointed to clearer tracking of case progress (33%), improved integration between broker systems and lenders (32%), and faster decision-in-principle outcomes (32%). Nearly a third (32%) said reducing manual document submission would help, and 31% wanted more consistent underwriting decisions.

When it comes to AI, broker sentiment is mixed. One in three brokers (33%) said they would be comfortable with greater use of AI or automation in document verification and administration, initial affordability assessments, and broker-lender communications. Similar proportions supported AI in case prioritisation (32%), customer journey updates (31%), and income and expenditure analysis (31%).

Brokers also saw potential for AI to support regulatory and compliance checks (22%), assist borrowers with multiple income streams (21%), and improve interpretation of income and expenditure (20%).

Despite these potential benefits, some scepticism remains. In 2026, 20% of brokers said AI would not have a meaningful positive impact on the mortgage process. In 2025, 18% said they had concerns about AI but were open to exploring it, 12% wanted AI used only once it was proven safe and regulated, and 8% did not want AI involved at all.

A third of brokers (33%) believe that clearer rules around the use of AI in the mortgage application process would be one of the most helpful government or regulatory changes for the UK mortgage market.

These findings highlight ongoing demand for smarter technology among brokers, but also underline the need for clear regulation and transparency around AI use in the mortgage sector.