Repayments on a £40,000 Mortgage

Repayments on a £40,000 mortgage will vary depending on your mortgage type. Your mortgage repayments will be determined by the length of your term, interest rate, and the type of mortgage you get.

A longer term will mean smaller monthly repayments but will result in you paying more overall. The higher the interest rate, the more you’ll pay and if you get an interest-only mortgage, for example, you’ll only repay the interest on the money you’ve borrowed.

In this article, we’ll look at the monthly repayments you can expect for a £40,000 mortgage, the annual income, and the deposit amount you’ll need to apply for this mortgage. As well as how using a mortgage broker can help you secure the lending you need at the most competitive interest rates.

How much would a £40,000 mortgage cost per month?

At the time of writing (April 2024) the average monthly repayments on a £40,000 mortgage are £234. This is based on current interest rates being around 5%, a typical mortgage term of 25 years, and opting for a capital repayment mortgage. Based on this, you would repay £70,151 by the end of your mortgage term.

Bear in mind, if you secure a mortgage with a longer term, 30 years for example, the total amount you pay back will be higher but your monthly repayments will be smaller.

Speak to one of the advisors we work with for a representative idea of what you might repay. A good broker will consider your circumstances and guide you through the process to get you the best possible deal and lowest repayments.

How much do I need to earn to get a £40,000 mortgage?

In general, the amount you can borrow is based on your salary. Most lenders will loan around 4 or 4.5 times your annual income. Using these figures, you’d need an annual income of around £9,000-£10,000 to be approved for a £40,000 mortgage. This is below the average UK annual salary, currently £34,900 (April 2024).

Some lenders may also be willing to offer 5 times or possibly even 6 times your annual salary. However, the circumstances in which this would be likely are if you already have a large deposit and/or the house you’re looking to purchase is valued at £100,000 or less.

As £40,000 is a small sum for a mortgage, you’ll likely need a large deposit to be approved or have specific circumstances, such as being a retiree looking to downsize to a smaller property or £40,000 being the outstanding figure ahead of a remortgage.

You might want to consider getting a joint mortgage with a partner, for example, if you’re unsure whether you’ll meet the lender’s eligibility criteria. You can use your combined earnings for this calculation and increase your chances of approval if you’re both low-income earners.

In these circumstances, it’s best to consult with a broker who can indicate which lenders can offer this and whether you’d meet the lender’s affordability criteria.

Use our affordability calculator below to see how much you might be able to borrow.

How much deposit do you need for a £40,000 mortgage?

As £40,000 is a small sum for a mortgage, the deposit requirements will vary from person to person. You might have a large deposit and are looking for a smaller mortgage for lower monthly repayments.

Or, you could be looking to purchase a house valued at £100,000 or less and only require a small mortgage. Generally, residential mortgage lenders require a minimum deposit of 5% to 10%. This percentage is based on the property value, not the mortgage amount.

However, as it’s rare for a house to be valued at around £50,000 in the UK, you’re unlikely to secure a mortgage with a deposit in this range. You’ll need a large deposit to get approved for a £40,000 mortgage to show lenders you’ll have no issues repaying the loan.

For example, if you were purchasing a property valued at £80,000 (rather than borrowing this amount), a minimum deposit of 5% to 10% would fall within the range of £4,000 to £8,000. Consequently, your mortgage amount would be between £66,000 and £62,000.

In this scenario, the lower deposit would result in higher monthly repayments. But with a larger deposit, you’d have lower monthly repayments and a lower loan-to-value ratio, which makes you more likely to qualify for competitive interest rates.

You may need a deposit of at least 25% or more if you have issues with bad credit or are looking for a mortgage involving a non-standard construction property. It’s important to note, factors such as these two examples will reduce the pool of lenders available.

Most lenders ask for a minimum of 20% for a buy-to-let mortgage, although a mortgage broker with experience in this area can identify some who will ask for less.

You can use our loan-to-value calculator below to see how the above scenarios play out.

How to get a £40,000 mortgage

Once you’ve found a property and made some calculations, the next step in your mortgage application should be to find an experienced mortgage broker as this will boost your chances of getting approved at the best terms available.

Using our free broker-matching service you can speak straight away to the right broker by simply enquiring online.

They’ll be able to help with:

• Deposit requirements: The circumstances in which you’ll be approved for a £40,000 mortgage, will likely involve you having a large deposit and £40k being a top-up on top of this. If you’re a high-net-worth individual, for example, saving won’t be an issue. But putting aside 10% to 20% of your monthly income will help you build the large deposit you’ll need to get approval for a £40,000 mortgage.
• Downloading and optimising your credit reports: It’s important to review your credit history before you apply for a mortgage, checking for any inaccuracies or outdated information that can be removed beforehand.
• Gathering all the necessary paperwork required for your application: Your broker will be able to guide you through the application process and all the typical documents required – proof of income, at least three months of bank statements, personal ID, proof of address, evidence of deposit, latest P60 form etc.
• Working out how much you can borrow:  Based on typical lender salary multiplier calculations, You may think £40,000 is the maximum you can borrow for a mortgage but that might not be the case. A mortgage broker can determine whether you can borrow more at better interest rates by considering your circumstances and whether you’re eligible for a better deal from lenders.
• Finding the right lender and securing the best deal for you: Your mortgage broker will be able to identify those lenders offering the best interest rate terms available across the whole market. This will save you time and, potentially, some money too.
• Guiding you through the process: Getting a mortgage can be difficult, especially if this is your first application. The right mortgage broker can help you with any issues you may face along the way, look after your interests and be a lifeline in case anything goes wrong.

Example monthly repayments for a £40,000 mortgage

Below are some illustrations of how the rate and length of your mortgage affect monthly repayments. All payments are based on a mortgage of £40,000.

For interest-only mortgages, the repayment remains as is regardless of the term. So, for example, the repayment shown for 6% – £200 per month – would be the same if you opted for a 15-year term or a 30-year term as the capital owed doesn’t reduce and is paid off in full at the end using a separate repayment vehicle.

*For the purpose of this table, we assume the interest rate stays the same for the full length of the mortgage. Interest rates can change if you decide to remortgage on to a different rate or move from a fixed or discounted deal on to the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR).

With the Bank of England base rate currently at 5.25% (April 2024) and the average mortgage rates between 5%-6% the repayment figures under these columns in the table above would be the most realistic. However, as the base rate comes back down in the future then mortgage lenders should follow suit and reduce their rates too. Remember, longer terms while maintaining the same interest rate, will result in a higher total amount being repaid.

Factors that affect monthly repayments

Here are some of the key criteria that could have an impact – both directly and indirectly – on your mortgage repayments:

Interest rates

The rate you secure will influence the monthly cost. Everything else being the same, a higher interest rate will mean you pay more for a £40k mortgage monthly. The rates available on the market can vary. So, it’s important to deal with a lender who’ll offer the most competitive rate for your circumstances.

Fixed or Tracker

You’ll also have the option to choose between a fixed rate vs a tracker mortgage. Usually, a fixed rate will be higher, increasing your monthly repayment. But, locking in a rate can allow you to better plan your finances.

Term Length

How long you take out a mortgage for can affect your rates and directly impact your monthly cost for a £40k loan. A longer term will likely reduce your monthly repayments, but it usually means paying more over the life of the mortgage.

Your age

Although it’s possible to get a mortgage at almost any age, time on your side can lead to better deals from lenders. This could mean lower rates and monthly repayments for your £40,000 mortgage.

The role your credit score plays

It’s worth downloading all your credit reports before applying for a mortgage because these scores can make a difference to the number of lenders willing to consider your application and, therefore, indirectly affect the rates you’ll be offered. Your broker can help with any mistakes and show you areas to improve. If you do have bad credit, there will still be specialist lenders available.

Other mortgage costs to consider

There are a few other additional charges to think about that may impact the monthly costs when setting up a mortgage worth £40,000:

Product fees

Some mortgages come with fees to set them up. These fees can include a booking fee, an arrangement fee, and a valuation fee. If you choose to include these mortgage fees in your total loan, you won’t have to pay anything upfront. However, including them will increase the amount you pay each month.

Insurance

When considering a mortgage, you’ll likely need to account for additional insurance costs. These may include:

• Home insurance: Covers your property against damage or loss.
• Life insurance: Provides coverage for the mortgage in case of your death.
• Income protection: Helps if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Critical illness cover: Assists if you’re diagnosed with a serious medical condition

Stamp duty

Depending on the home’s value and whether it’s your main residence, you might be required to pay stamp duty. First-time buyers or those purchasing residential properties under £250,000 are exempt from this tax.

Legal fees

These costs typically arise during the purchase process. While they don’t directly impact monthly payments, they are an additional expense to consider in your calculations.

Why use Online Mortgage Advisor?

The only way to guarantee the best deal on your mortgage is to speak to a broker who fully understands your circumstances and has access to the entire UK mortgage market. Even on a mortgage of £40,000, it’s quite possible to end up paying a lot more than you should if you don’t find the right deal.

Our broker matching service will pair you up with a broker who is experienced in helping people like you no matter how niche your situation is. They will fully cost each potential deal to work out which is the cheapest.

To get matched with your ideal broker, call today on 0808 189 2301 or enquire online to arrange a free, no-obligation chat.