Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Estimate how much you could borrow for a UK mortgage — and the maximum property price you could buy.
Loans, credit cards, childcare — not food/utilities.
FCA floor ~5.5–7.5%.
On a combined income of £45,000, a UK lender might offer up to £164,005 (4.5× income cap or stress-test, whichever is lower), supporting a property price of up to £204,005 at 80% LTV.
Which limit binds you?
UK lenders apply two caps and use the lower of the two. Here's what each says for your inputs.
How UK mortgage affordability works
Income multiple cap
Most UK lenders cap mortgages at 4.5× combined gross income. A few lenders offer 5.0× or 5.5× for high earners or professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants).
- £50,000 sole income → £225,000 max loan (4.5×)
- £80,000 joint income → £360,000 max loan (4.5×)
- £120,000 joint income → £540,000 max loan (4.5×)
Stress-test cap
Lenders check you could still afford the monthly payment if interest rates rose. The stress rate is usually the product's revert rate + 3%, or a floor around 7–7.5%. Your monthly outgoings (loans, credit cards, childcare) reduce the income available for a mortgage.
We use a simplified UK tax approximation to estimate net monthly income. Individual lender models vary.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I borrow for a UK mortgage?
Most UK lenders cap mortgage borrowing at 4.5× your annual income (joint income if applying together). Some lenders go to 5.5× for high earners or professionals. The actual maximum also depends on whether you pass the lender's stress-test at ~7.5%.
What is the FCA stress-test rate?
Lenders must check you could still afford payments if rates rose to a stress rate — typically 3% above the revert rate, or a floor of around 7–7.5%. From August 2022, Bank of England-mandated stress testing was formally withdrawn but most lenders still apply their own internal stress rate.
Do my monthly outgoings affect how much I can borrow?
Yes. Credit cards, loans, car finance and childcare all reduce the income a lender considers available for a mortgage. This calculator includes your monthly outgoings in the stress-test limit.
Does the deposit affect affordability?
Deposit sets your LTV (loan-to-value) and unlocks different rates, but it doesn't change how much you can borrow — that's driven by income and outgoings. A bigger deposit buys you a pricier home at the same loan amount.
Why does this estimate differ from a lender's decision in principle?
Lenders use bespoke affordability models with many variables (ONS spending data, dependants, location). This tool gives a realistic ballpark using the two most common caps — income multiple and stress test — but a real DIP will vary.
Reviewed by the Mortgage118 editorial team. Affordability parameters reflect typical UK high-street lender practice. This calculator provides an estimate only and does not constitute mortgage advice.