Estimate a borrowing range from household income, debt payments, childcare costs and lender-style stress checks. The result shows which constraint is binding: income multiple, spending capacity or stress-tested repayment.
MORTGAGE AFFORDABILITY
How much could you borrow?
Illustrative maximum borrowing
£255,477
- Household income
- £70,000
- Income-multiple ceiling
- £315,000
- Stress-payment ceiling
- £255,477
- Payment at entered rate
- £1,420/mo
- Payment at stress rate
- £1,725/mo
- Property budget with deposit
- £305,477
The lower of the selected income multiple and an expenditure-constrained stress test is used. Lenders also assess credit history, income evidence, age, property type, committed expenditure and their own policy.
A transparent range based on household income, commitments and a repayment stress check. This is the quickest way to compare lender-style borrowing limits before you start viewing properties, setting a budget, or deciding whether the mortgage, term and deposit all work together.
Estimate a borrowing range from household income, debt payments, childcare costs and lender-style stress checks. The result shows which constraint is binding: income multiple, spending capacity or stress-tested repayment.
A household on £55,000 and £15,000 income with a £50,000 deposit will usually see a very different borrowing ceiling from a household with the same income but higher monthly commitments. A tighter income multiple or higher stress rate can reduce the figure quickly even if gross income stays unchanged. That is why two buyers on the same headline salary can receive different affordability estimates from different lenders.
- Lenders use different income multiples, credit checks, age limits, stress rates and affordability policies.
- A higher deposit, lower commitments or stronger income evidence can move the result materially.
- Some lenders treat employed income, overtime, bonuses, dividends or childcare costs differently.
Important
This is an estimate, not a mortgage offer. Lenders use different income multiples, credit checks, age limits, stress rates and affordability policies.
If the borrowing range looks feasible, the next question is monthly payment. If the payment feels tight, check whether a larger deposit, a longer term or a different product changes the result. If you are comparing rent with buying, or working back from a target mortgage amount, use the related property tools instead of relying on this page alone.
SOURCES & REVIEW
Checked against official guidance
Last reviewed 1 September 2026 · Rule version GB-2026.27.1
Daily/weekly source monitoring. If a source changes, the affected rule set is reviewed before publication.
All source links are kept visible so you can verify the figures used on this page.
Source line: Borrowing ranges are kept aligned with FCA and MoneyHelper guidance, but lender policy can still produce a different result.
FCA: Mortgage affordability ↗MoneyHelper: Mortgage borrowing ↗Sources, methodology and update policy →Report an issue or correction →WHY RESULTS DIFFER
Why two users can see different results
Why the result can differ
Different tax codes, payroll periods, Scottish bands, pension methods or lender assumptions can change the outcome.
One-off bonuses, pay frequency, overpayments, allowances and reliefs can move the result away from a simple annual estimate.
Where a rule depends on eligibility or legal status, this page shows an estimate and links to official guidance.
This section is intentionally repeated on key tools so the explanation stays near the result instead of being hidden in a separate policy page.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Is this a lender offer?
No. Lenders can use different income multiples, stress tests and affordability rules.
Why can the result change between lenders?
Different lenders treat expenses, debts, income types and credit profiles differently.
Does a bigger deposit always help?
Usually yes, because it lowers the amount borrowed and can improve affordability headroom.
Do debts and childcare costs matter?
Yes. Committed monthly spending can reduce the amount a lender is willing to advance.
Do bonuses and overtime count?
Sometimes. Lenders vary in how they treat bonus, overtime, dividend and commission income.
Why does a stress rate matter?
Lenders test whether the loan would still look affordable if rates rise from the headline deal rate.