Research finds ongoing delays for complex mortgage cases

May 14, 2026 by Brendan O'Neill

Surveys and Statistics

The latest research has found that while the processing of mortgage applications is now quicker in general, this does not apply to complex cases.

This is the finding of a study conducted by Nottingham Building Society. This lender spoke to mortgage advisors and over three quarters said application processing had sped up in comparison with 2024. A total of 76% of them said lenders were dealing more quickly with applications. However, the study also found this is not the case when it comes to more complicated applications.

This means those where a more detailed assessment is needed. One of the most frequent causes of delays is automated credit and income checking, which 17% of advisors cited. Another 16% said assessing the affordability of the product and securing a decision-in-principle are when delays usually happen.

Many of the advisors also stated these delays could be catastrophic. 16% of them told the study they had resulted in ultimate failure for the application.

One of the biggest reasons why mortgage applications become more complex is because borrowers have income from multiple sources. Another is that they have had breaks in their working histories.

Speaking to Mortgage Introducer, Aaron Shinwell from Nottingham BS said the problem had to be tackled head-on, adding:

“That means making automated checks more responsive to real-life income patterns, improving transparency as cases move through the system and reducing delays where extra documentation or judgement is needed.”

Advisors with the CeMAP qualification would agree with this, as complex cases are on the rise.