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🇬🇧 UK-only · Free Affordability Check

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Find out how much a bank will lend you for a house. We use standard UK income multiples and factor in your existing debts to give a realistic maximum offer.

✓4.5x–5x Income Multiples✓Debt Impact Handled✓Repayment Estimator✓Free — no sign-up

Your Financial Details

Loans, credit cards, car finance, childcare

Affordability Estimate

Max Property Price£0
Max Mortgage Offer:£0
Your Deposit:£20,000
Income Multiplier Used:4.5x

Estimated Monthly Repayment

£0 / month

This is a rough estimate of what your monthly mortgage payment would be if you borrowed the absolute maximum (£0).

Assumptions used for this calculation:

  • Interest Rate: 5.5% (Typical 2026 average)
  • Mortgage Term: 25 Years
  • Type: Capital Repayment
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How Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage in 2026?

When you apply for a mortgage, a bank looks at two things: your Income Multiple (a hard cap on how much they will lend you based on your gross salary) and your Affordability (a stress-test of your net take-home pay to ensure you can actually afford the monthly payments).

Before getting a mortgage in principle, you should understand exactly what your net take-home pay is. Use our Take-Home Pay Calculator to accurately model your monthly cash flow, taking into account tax, NI, and student loans.

Income Multiples — How Lenders Calculate Your Maximum

The Bank of England restricts how many "high-multiple" mortgages a bank can hand out. Because of this, lenders follow strict multiplier rules:

  • Standard Earners: If your combined household income is under £75,000, almost all banks will cap your maximum borrowing at 4.5 times your gross income.
  • Higher Earners: If your combined income is over £75,000 (or £100,000 for some lenders), banks will often unlock a 5.0x or 5.5x multiplier, as higher earners have more disposable income to absorb rate shocks.
  • Professionals: Doctors, dentists, accountants, and lawyers are sometimes offered even higher multiples because their future earning potential is deemed incredibly secure.

How Does Debt Affect Mortgage Affordability?

Having debt absolutely destroys your borrowing power. Because a lender uses an income multiplier, they also apply that multiplier in reverse to your debt.

If you have a £300/month car finance payment, that is £3,600 a year leaving your account. The lender will take that £3,600 and multiply it by 4.5. This means a simple £300 car payment reduces your maximum mortgage offer by a staggering £16,200! This applies to credit card minimums, personal loans, and even committed childcare costs.

How Much Deposit Do You Need in 2026?

Your maximum property price is simply your Maximum Mortgage Offer plus the cash deposit you have saved. To get a mortgage, you need a minimum of a 5% deposit.

If you are a first-time buyer saving for a deposit, you should absolutely be using a Lifetime ISA (LISA). The government gives you a free 25% bonus on everything you save toward your first home. Check out our Lifetime ISA Calculator to see how fast this bonus adds up.

Don't Forget Stamp Duty

Finding out you can afford a £350,000 house is great, but don't forget you have to pay the government tax to buy it. This tax (Stamp Duty) must be paid in cash; you cannot add it to your mortgage.

First-time buyers get a discount, but home movers pay the full rate. Calculate your exact bill using our Stamp Duty Calculator 2026.

Getting a Mortgage

Frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow for a mortgage based on my salary?
As a general rule in the UK, you can borrow between 4 and 4.5 times your gross annual salary. If you have a partner, the multiple is applied to your combined salary. For example, a combined income of £60,000 could allow you to borrow roughly £270,000.
What is the maximum income multiple for a mortgage in 2026?
While the standard maximum is 4.5x, many lenders will offer 5x or even 5.5x income multiples if your household income is above a certain threshold (typically £75,000 or £100,000) or if you are applying for specific professional mortgages (e.g., doctors, lawyers).
Does student loan repayment affect mortgage affordability?
Yes, student loan repayments reduce your net disposable income. When a bank 'stress tests' your finances to ensure you can afford the monthly mortgage payments, they will subtract your monthly student loan deduction. This can lower the total amount they are willing to lend you.
How does my pension contribution affect how much I can borrow?
Mandatory pension contributions (like the NHS pension or auto-enrolment) do reduce your take-home pay, which lenders factor into affordability. However, if you are making large voluntary contributions, lenders will often ignore them as you could technically pause them if you needed the cash to pay the mortgage.
What is the mortgage stress test rate in 2026?
The Bank of England requires lenders to 'stress test' applicants to ensure they could still afford their mortgage if interest rates rose. Typically, lenders will test your affordability at their Standard Variable Rate (SVR) plus a small margin, meaning they assess if you can survive paying rates around 7% to 8%.
Can I get a mortgage on a zero-hours contract?
Yes, but it is harder. Lenders typically require you to have been working with the same employer for at least 12 months (sometimes 24 months) so they can average out your earnings over that period to find a reliable annual salary figure to multiply.
How much deposit do I need for a first-time buyer mortgage?
The absolute minimum deposit required in the UK is usually 5% of the property value (a 95% LTV mortgage). However, getting a 10% or 15% deposit unlocks significantly better interest rates, which lowers your monthly payments.
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