How Much Can I Borrow for a Mortgage?

Estimate a borrowing range and indicative property budget based on income, employment and deposit.

How Much Can I Borrow?

Rough borrowing estimate based on income and basic affordability.

Annual income (£) Second applicant income (£) Monthly commitments (£) Deposit (£) Employment status

Lower borrowing estimate

£—

Upper borrowing estimate

£—

Indicative property budget

£—

Lenders typically lend 4× to 4.75× combined income subject to affordability. Specialist lenders may go higher. Self-employed and contractor income assessments vary.

Speak to a Broker

What lenders look at

Gross annual income (single or joint).
Type of income — employed, self-employed, contractor, director, retired.
Length of employment or trading history.
Committed monthly outgoings, loans, credit card minimums and childcare.
Number of dependants.
Deposit size and source.
Credit history including missed payments, defaults, CCJs.
Stress-tested affordability at a higher rate than the headline rate.

Why this is only a range

UK lenders use different income multiples, treat bonus and commission differently, and apply their own affordability calculators. The same applicant can be offered substantially different amounts at two lenders. A whole-of-market broker can match you to a lender whose model fits your profile.

Next steps

If you’d like to know what specific lenders may be willing to lend you, request a callback and a mortgage adviser or broker partner can talk you through your options.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this borrowing estimate? +

It’s a rough range based on common UK income multiples (typically 4× to 4.75× combined income) less an allowance for monthly commitments. Lenders also apply stress tests, dependants counts, and product-specific overlays.

Why do self-employed and contractor numbers look lower? +

Lender income assessments vary. Some only count the latest year of net profit; others use a two-year average; specialist lenders may use day-rate × weeks worked for contractors. The calculator uses cautious defaults.

Do childcare costs reduce what I can borrow? +

Yes. Lenders factor in committed outgoings, including childcare, school fees, loans, and credit card minimums. A broker can model this properly.

Will applying for a mortgage hurt my credit score? +

A formal application leaves a hard search. An agreement in principle usually uses a soft search at most lenders — but always check before consenting.

Can a deposit gift change what I can borrow? +

Yes. A larger deposit usually means a lower LTV and access to better rates, but the borrowing multiple cap still applies to income.