Use our mortgage affordability calculator to explore simple illustrative borrowing scenarios based on your household income.
Enter income details for up to four applicants to see 4.0×, 4.5× and higher 6.0× income-multiple illustrations.
This calculator is for general guidance only. It is not mortgage advice, an affordability assessment, an agreement in principle, a mortgage offer or a lending decision.
Explore Illustrative Borrowing Scenarios
Enter income details for up to four applicants and regular committed expenditure to compare three simple income-multiple illustrations. The figures are not personalised lending decisions.
Illustrative Borrowing Scenarios
Income-multiple illustrations
4.0× income illustration
£0A simple mathematical illustration based on four times the combined income entered, not a lender decision.
4.5× income illustration
£0A simple mathematical illustration only. Actual lender criteria and affordability assessments vary.
Higher income-multiple illustration — 6.0×
£0Higher income multiples are not available to every applicant. Availability can depend on the lender and product as well as income, profession, loan-to-value, credit profile, mortgage term and other eligibility and affordability criteria.
These figures are simple mathematical income-multiple illustrations only. They are not an assessment of how much you personally can borrow and do not mean that a lender will offer any of the amounts shown.
Important Mortgage Information
This calculator provides simple illustrative income-multiple estimates only. It does not provide mortgage advice and is not an affordability assessment, agreement in principle, mortgage offer, lending decision or guarantee that borrowing will be available.
Actual mortgage affordability and eligibility depend on the individual lender’s criteria and may include income and income evidence, committed and household expenditure, credit history, deposit and loan-to-value, mortgage term, age, property type and other individual circumstances.
S&S Home Journey does not provide regulated mortgage advice. Where appropriate, we may introduce you to an appropriately authorised mortgage adviser. That adviser or firm provides any regulated mortgage advice or recommendation. You are free to choose your own mortgage adviser.
Want to Understand Your Mortgage Options?
If you would like to discuss your next steps, S&S Home Journey can arrange an introduction to an appropriately authorised mortgage adviser who can assess your individual circumstances and discuss suitable mortgage options.
Understanding affordability
How Does a Mortgage Affordability Calculator Work?
Simple online mortgage affordability calculators can use income multiples to show mathematical illustrations. This calculator adds the gross annual income entered for each enabled applicant and displays figures at 4.0, 4.5 and 6.0 times that combined amount.
An actual lender affordability assessment is more sophisticated. Lenders may assess income and evidence, committed expenditure, wider household spending, credit history, deposit, mortgage term and the property itself. As a result, an online illustration cannot guarantee available borrowing: criteria differ between lenders and products.
What Can Affect How Much Mortgage You Can Get?
Several factors can influence mortgage affordability and eligibility. However, no single factor guarantees that a lender will accept an application.
Income and evidence
Lenders may consider the level, type and consistency of income, employment status and available evidence.
Expenditure and credit
Committed borrowing, wider household expenditure and credit history can form part of an affordability assessment.
Deposit and LTV
The deposit and resulting loan-to-value may affect the products and criteria available.
Mortgage term and age
The requested term, age and anticipated circumstances over that term may be relevant to the lender.
The property
Property type, construction, condition, use and valuation can affect whether it is acceptable security for a lender.
Lender and product criteria
Each lender and mortgage product can apply different eligibility and affordability requirements.
Joint Mortgage Affordability
Where a mortgage application has more than one applicant, a lender may consider the incomes of each applicant. However, the lender still assesses the whole application, including every applicant’s circumstances, commitments, credit profile and its lending criteria.
If you are preparing to buy together, our Buying Journey Explained guide sets out the wider process.
Self-Employed Mortgage Affordability
Being self-employed does not automatically prevent someone obtaining a mortgage. Lenders may request different evidence and can assess income differently depending on business structure, trading history, accounts, tax information and individual circumstances.
If you need help, an appropriately authorised adviser can explain which evidence may be relevant. S&S Home Journey does not provide mortgage or tax advice.
Is 4.5 Times Income Guaranteed?
No. The 4.5× figure shown by this calculator is only a mathematical illustration. Actual income multiples and mortgage affordability depend on the lender, product and the applicant’s full circumstances.
Can You Borrow 6 Times Your Income?
Higher income multiples can exist under particular lender and product criteria, but they are not universally available and should not be treated as an entitlement or expected borrowing amount. The lender must still carry out a full affordability and eligibility assessment.
Worked illustration
Mortgage Affordability Calculator Example
Applicant 1 earns £40,000 and Applicant 2 earns £30,000, giving a combined gross annual income of £70,000.
These are mathematical illustrations only. They do not mean that a lender would offer any of these amounts.
Common questions
Mortgage Affordability Calculator FAQs
How much mortgage can I afford?
This calculator can provide simple income-multiple illustrations, but an actual lender or adviser assessment is needed to understand realistic mortgage options for your individual circumstances.
Do lenders use 4.5 times salary?
Lender approaches and criteria vary. The 4.5× scenario on this page is a mathematical illustration and is not guaranteed or associated with every lender or product.
Can two incomes be used for a joint mortgage?
Lenders may consider income from both applicants, subject to their criteria and a full affordability and eligibility assessment of the joint application.
Does existing debt affect mortgage affordability?
Lenders can consider financial commitments alongside wider household expenditure and other circumstances.
Can I get a mortgage if I’m self-employed?
Self-employed applicants can obtain mortgages, but income evidence and lender criteria vary. An appropriately authorised mortgage adviser can assess the individual circumstances.
Is this calculator an Agreement in Principle?
No. It is an illustrative calculator only and is not an affordability assessment, Agreement in Principle, mortgage offer or lending decision.
Is the amount shown guaranteed?
No. None of the three scenarios represents guaranteed borrowing or means that a lender will offer the amount displayed.