The amount UK lenders will lend you is the lower of (a) typically 4.5× your gross household income and (b) what a stressed monthly payment fits within 45% of your monthly income. This calculator computes both, applies the lower, and tells you your realistic maximum purchase price — plus the SDLT/LBTT/LTT on that price, factored into your upfront cash requirement. The stress test uplift is configurable: 3 percentage points is the FCA norm.
Residential Affordability
How much you can borrow — using the lender's actual stress test (+3 percentage points by default) and capped at 4.5× household income, with SDLT and all-in monthly housing costs.
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Affordability headlines
Max property price
£287,500
Max loan
£247,500
LTV
86.1%
Deposit %
13.9%
Monthly payments
Stressed payment is the rate the lender will qualify you at.
Actual monthly
£1,329
Stressed monthly
£1,816
SDLT on max
£0
Upfront cash
£42,500
Sensitivity: max price vs income
If your salary changes ±20%, here's the max you could afford.
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Related guides
Plain-English explainers for the rules behind this calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions UK property investors most often have about this tool and the underlying rules.
- How much can I borrow for a mortgage in 2026?
- Typically 4.5× your gross household income, subject to passing the lender's stress test (your payment at rate + 3pp must fit roughly 45% of your monthly net income). Some lenders offer 5.5-6.5× for high earners (£75k+) or specific professionals. This calculator uses 4.5× by default — adjust the multiplier if you have a specialist offer.
- What is the mortgage stress test?
- Lenders must verify you could still afford the mortgage if rates rose. The standard test (FCA / PRA) is rate + 3 percentage points or 5.5% — whichever is higher. With current rates around 5%, the stress test is at 8% for most products. 5-year fixes have a softer test at the pay rate or pay rate + 1%.
- Does the deposit affect what I can borrow?
- Indirectly — yes. The deposit caps your purchase price at (deposit + max loan), so a bigger deposit means a bigger achievable purchase. But the max LOAN itself is income-based, not deposit-based. The deposit also determines your LTV, which affects the rate.