Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much you could borrow based on your income, deposit and monthly commitments. Includes a stress-test at a higher rate and an indicative monthly repayment. All figures are estimates — lenders apply their own individual criteria.
Enter your income to see what you could borrow
Your estimated maximum borrowing, property price, and monthly payments will appear here as you type.
How mortgage affordability is calculated
UK lenders use two main checks before offering a mortgage. First, they apply an income multiple — typically 4 to 4.5 times your gross annual household income — to set the maximum loan size. Second, they carry out a stress test: they check you could still afford repayments if the interest rate rose to a higher level (usually 3 percentage points above their standard reversion rate, commonly around 7–9%). You must pass both checks.
Your Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio — the loan as a percentage of the property price — also matters. Higher LTV means higher rates and stricter criteria; most lenders prefer LTV below 90%. Existing monthly debt commitments (loans, hire purchase, credit cards) are subtracted from your disposable income before the stress test, reducing what you can borrow. All figures in this calculator are illustrative and use documented industry conventions, not any specific lender's model.
Frequently asked questions
- How much can I borrow for a mortgage in the UK?
- Most UK lenders use an income multiple to cap borrowing — typically 4 to 4.5 times your gross annual income, or combined income for joint applications. Some lenders offer up to 5× or 5.5× for higher earners or certain professions. Your actual maximum also depends on your deposit, existing debts, and whether you pass the lender's affordability stress test.
- What is the mortgage stress test in 2026/27?
- Lenders are required under FCA MCOB 11.6 rules to check that you could still afford repayments if interest rates were significantly higher than today's rate — typically 3 percentage points above their reversion rate. This calculator uses 8% as a representative stress rate, producing a conservative estimate. Your lender will apply their own specific rate.
- Does a larger deposit increase what I can borrow?
- A larger deposit reduces your Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio, which often unlocks better interest rates and therefore improves affordability, but it does not directly increase the income-multiple cap. Where it helps most is in passing the stress test: a lower loan amount means lower monthly payments, which are easier to cover at the stress rate.
- What counts as income for a mortgage?
- Lenders typically include basic salary, guaranteed bonuses, state benefits and rental income. Self-employment income is usually averaged over two to three years of accounts. Commission and overtime are often included at a percentage (commonly 50%). This calculator uses your entered income as gross annual income without further adjustment.
- Are these figures a guarantee of what a lender will offer?
- No. This calculator produces illustrative estimates based on documented industry conventions. Each lender applies their own affordability model, credit scoring and underwriting criteria. The figures here are a useful starting point for understanding your budget, not a mortgage offer or Agreement in Principle.