Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB) has joined the Open Property Data Association (OPDA), becoming the first mortgage intermediary to do so.

The network will support the firm in speeding up homebuying by sharing its digital property information across the home transaction.

MAB, which has more than 2,000 advisers, is the latest group to join OPDA, after Movemnt joined last month and Nationwide, HSBC and NatWest joined over the summer. Lloyds Banking Group also became a member in March.

OPDA was launched last year and has helped firms reduce the time from mortgage offer and purchase accepted to exchange of contracts to within 15 days.

Chief transformation officer at MAB, Donna Brenchley, said: "Our mortgage advisers are at the coalface of the homebuying process, witnessing first-hand the difficulties and delays that customers face every day.

"We’re passionate about improving the homebuying experience for customers and streamlining the process for our advisers, and joining OPDA is integral to helping us achieve this goal."

Chair at OPDA, Maria Harris, added: "MAB’s direct knowledge of the day-to-day homebuying experience through its advisers is hugely beneficial. Their excellent network will be a great channel for getting improvements to the process out there. Along with work from our other members, MAB will help us to transform the homebuying process from what is currently a poor customer experience."

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