Mortgage Affordability Calculator (How Much Can I Borrow?)
Enter your income (and a partner’s) to see roughly how much you could borrow and what it would cost each month.
| Monthly repayment at 5% over 25 years | £1,052.26 |
|---|---|
| Share of your take-home pay | 39% |
| Loan-to-value (LTV) | 86% |
| Income multiple | Borrow up to | Home price | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 × | £140,000 | £170,000 | £818.43 |
| 4 × | £160,000 | £190,000 | £935.34 |
| 4.5 × | £180,000 | £210,000 | £1,052.26 |
| 5 × | £200,000 | £230,000 | £1,169.18 |
A rule of thumb only. Lenders also check your outgoings, debts, credit history and how the payments would look if rates rose. Many cap borrowing at around 4 to 4.5 times income, and a few go higher for some borrowers.
How much can I borrow for a mortgage?
Most lenders offer around 4 to 4.5 times your total yearly income, and a few lend 5 times or more in some cases. With a combined income of £70,000, that is about £280,000 to £315,000.
What lenders actually check
- Your outgoings: loans, credit cards, car finance, childcare and other regular costs reduce what they will lend.
- Your credit history and any missed payments.
- Stress testing: they check you could still afford the payments if rates rose.
- Your deposit: a bigger deposit means a lower loan-to-value and better rates.
- Your job and income type: self-employed borrowers usually need two or three years of accounts.
Is it a good idea to borrow the maximum?
Not necessarily. The “share of take-home pay” figure above shows how much of your monthly income the payment would use. Keeping the payment to a smaller share of your take-home pay leaves more room for rate rises and life events, so it is worth testing a lower amount than the maximum.
Next steps
See what you would pay each month with our mortgage repayment calculator, and check the tax on the purchase with the stamp duty calculator. A regulated mortgage adviser can tell you what lenders would really offer.
Frequently asked questions
How much mortgage can I get on £40,000 a year?
At 4.5 times income, about £180,000. With a partner earning the same, the combined borrowing would be about £360,000.
Can I get a mortgage with a partner?
Yes. Lenders usually add both incomes together for a joint mortgage, subject to affordability checks.
Does a bigger deposit let me borrow more?
The amount you can borrow is mostly based on income, but a bigger deposit means you can buy a more expensive home and usually qualify for better interest rates.
What deposit do I need?
Most lenders ask for at least 5% of the home price, and rates are generally better with 10% or more.
More from UK Answers
Figures are for the 2026/27 tax year from official sources and are estimates for guidance only, not financial or legal advice. Printed from ukanswers.co.uk.