How Much Can You Borrow for a Mortgage?

Use our calculator below to see how much you could borrow for a mortgage and how to secure the best deal

Home Mortgage Affordability How Much Can You Borrow For A Mortgage?

Author: Pete Mugleston

Mortgage Advisor, MD

Reviewer: Jon Nixon

Director of Distribution

Updated: March 11, 2024

How we reviewed this article:

Our experts continuously monitor changes in the financial space and work closely with qualified mortgage advisors for factual verification.

March 11, 2024

In this article, we’ll look at income multiples, how mortgage lenders calculate your affordability and how much you can borrow based on your current salary.

What are mortgage income multiples?

A mortgage income multiple is simply a multiple of your annual income, used by mortgage lenders to get an idea of the size of home loan you might be able to afford. 

For example, if you were earning £40,000 a year and a lender used a mortgage income multiple of 4, then they would take 4 x £40,000 – £160,000 – as the maximum they would be prepared to lend you.

How much mortgage can you borrow based on your salary?

Mortgage lenders typically use an income multiple when determining the borrowing capacity of an applicant. This is often 4 to 5 times annual salary, but recent changes have prioritised affordability assessments. Debt to income ratio, employment stability, and your income source can impact the multiple available to you.

Enter your salary below, (combined salaries for a joint application) to see how much you could potentially borrow.

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Use this calculator to determine how much you could potentially borrow for a mortgage, based on the typical salary multiples used by most UK lenders.

Input full salaries for all applicants
£

Your Results:

You could borrow up to 

Most lenders would consider letting you borrow

This is based on 4.5 times your household income, the standard calculation used by the majority of mortgage providers. To borrow more than this, you will need to use a mortgage broker to access specialist lenders.

Some lenders would consider letting you borrow

This is based on 5 times your household income, a salary multiple you might struggle to qualify for without the help of a broker. This income multiple is not widely available to customers who are applying directly with a lender.

A minority of lenders would consider letting you borrow

This is based on 6 times your household income, a salary multiple you will struggle to get without a broker. Six-times salary mortgages are usually only available under very specific circumstances.

Get Started with an expert broker to find out exactly how much you could borrow.

Get Started

Mortgage calculators can be useful to get a rough idea of your total borrowing, but keep in mind that they are unable to take into account your personal circumstances, and therefore there may be additional factors that affect the actual amount you can borrow.

There also are some lenders that don’t rely on income multiples and you will typically need to speak to a broker to access them.

Did you know… You could access 30% more of the mortgage market with a broker on your side.

Maximise your chance of approval with a dedicated specialist broker

Get Started

Ask Us A Question

We know everyone's circumstances are different, that's why we work with mortgage brokers who are experts in all different mortgage subjects.

Ask us a question and we'll get the best expert to help.

Feefo 5 Stars
1 of 3
£
£
£
2 of 3
3 of 3 Send!

How lenders calculate affordability

Most lenders use a multiple of your income based on their affordability assessment to determine how much they’re willing to let you borrow. They will also factor in your outgoings and offset this against the amount you earn.

Whilst the typical borrower can expect to be offered between 4 and 4.5 times their salary, it’s possible to find lenders willing to offer more than that.

In certain circumstances, you may be able to borrow 5 or even 6 times your income, which can drastically increase the size of your loan, as demonstrated in the table below.

Net Salary 4x 4.5x 5x 5.5x 6x
£20,000 £80,000 £90,000 £100,000 £110,000 £120,000
£25,000 £100,000 £112,500 £125,000 £137,500 £150,000
£30,000 £120,000 £135,000 £150,000 £165,000 £180,000
£40,000 £160,000 £180,000 £200,000 £220,000 £240,000
£45,000 £180,000 £202,500 £225,000 £247,500 £270,000

As you can see, even as little as 0.5 difference in the income multiple can make a staggering difference in the size of the loan you can borrow, and, more importantly, the type of property that you can afford.

How to borrow more

To access higher levels of borrowing, there are a number of steps you can take:

Speak to a specialist broker

As high street lenders tend to be more restrictive with their lending, it’s often specialist lenders that can offer more generous salary multiples. Using a whole-of-market broker provides you with the best opportunity to access those lenders.

In fact, some specialist lenders are only available via an intermediary such as a broker, so if your main goal is to borrow more than your typical bank will offer, it’s highly recommended that you speak to a broker, like those that we work with.

There are brokers in our network who have specific expertise in maximising lending and can prevent you from missing out on a more suitable deal that you wouldn’t find online.

Some of the benefits (not limited to) of using a mortgage broker from our network are as follows:

  • Access to a wide range of lenders who offer 5 times salary and 6 times salary mortgages
  • Able to borrow based on salary plus 100% of any supplemental income, such as benefits, pension income or freelance work
  • Borrowing options are still available for high debt-to-income customers with via lenders with a higher appetite for risk
  • Access to the entire market, including mortgages based on higher income multiples and exclusive, broker-only deals for customers in certain professions
  • Bespoke, impartial advice about rates and deals from across the entire market

Some considerations if you go directly to a bank:

  • Risk of having borrowing capped at 4.5 times your annual salary
  • Might be able to borrow based only on your main salary
  • Risk being declined if your debt-to-income ratio is high
  • Access to just one range of mortgage products
  • Lender likely to upsell their own products and services only

 

 

We're so confident in our service, we guarantee it.

We know it's important for you to have complete confidence in our service, and trust that you're getting the best chance of mortgage approval at the best available rate. We guarantee to get your mortgage approved where others can't - or we'll give you £100*

Increase your deposit size

A larger deposit can persuade lenders that you’re a safe bet and subsequently give you a larger pool to choose from.

Offering more than the minimum amount necessary (5-10%) will encourage some lenders to lend to you at higher multiples of your income, as well as at more competitive interest rates.

Another point to note is that it will reduce the amount you need to borrow, therefore making it easier to pass the affordability assessment. For example, in the case of a £200,000 home:

  • Provide a 5% deposit  – (£10k) you’ll need to borrow £190,000
  • Provide a 15% deposit  – (£30k) you’ll need to borrow £160,000, which is easier to achieve

Include supplemental income

Bonuses, overtime and commission can all count towards your affordability asssessment, and in each instance evidence will need to be provided through payslips, often taken as an average over a period of months or years. How much of a bonus is accepted will usually depend on whether or not the bonus is guaranteed or discretionary.

The table below gives an overview of what to expect. As you can see, approaches vary significantly between lenders, so if any of these apply to you then talk to your broker so that they can prioritise your different income types and find the best lender.

Income Types % Considered Notes:
Basic Pay 100% Taken from payslips/contract
Regular Overtime 50-100% Usually average of last 3 months
Irregular Overtime 0-100% Usually average of last 3 months
Annual Bonus 0-100% Taken from payslips/P60
Quarterly Bonus 0-100% From payslips (Usually avg. of last 12 months)
Monthly Bonus 0-100% From payslips (Usually avg. of last 3-12 months)
Commission 0-100% From payslips (Usually avg. of last 3-12 months)
London Weighting 0-100% From payslips
Car Allowance 0-100% From payslips
Shift Allowance 0-100% From payslips (Usually avg. of last 3 months)

Use a guarantor

If you’ve already stretched your income as far as possible and are still unable to buy the home you want, a guarantor mortgage could be the answer. There are various options available, but the concept is that your borrowing, or an element of it, is secured by a guarantor, usually on their property, income, or savings.

Get expert advice immediately if...

If you are looking to borrow 6 or more, or want to use additional income etc. seek help from us now

Get Started

Joint mortgage borrowing

If you’re applying for a mortgage jointly with someone else, lenders will use your combined incomes to determine how much you can borrow, which usually works out to much more than either applicant could afford on their own. Of course, this depends on both parties’ circumstances, and the addition of an applicant with very little or no income is unlikely to be very beneficial.

Some mortgage lenders will even consider the income of up to 4 applicants on one mortgage, however, this is fairly niche and is more likely to be available through specialist brokers.

Salary A Salary B Total Joint Salaries 4x Joint Salaries 5x Joint Salaries 6x Joint Salaries
£20,000 £24,000 £44,000 £176,000 £220,000 £264,000
£22,000 £31,000 £53,000 £212,000 £265,000 £318,000

Which lenders offer higher income multiples?

There are a few high street lenders who will offer higher salary multiple mortgages – usually between 5 times and six times income – in the right circumstances, although much of the high-level borrowing on the market is provided by more specialist lenders.

  • Barclays: Currently offers up to 5.5* times the income of applicants, so long as the LTV is 85% or less, and at least one applicant earns more than £75k or joint applicants earn more than £100k between them. This is only available for capital repayment mortgages.
  • Halifax: Currently offers up to 5 times the income of applicants who earn more than £75k on loans of up to £750,000 with an LTV of between 75-85%
  • HSBC: Currently offers up to 4.49 times the income of applicants who earn at least £50,000 on loans with a maximum LTV of 80%
  • Kensington: Can consider up to x6 salary mortgages but has been known to reserve this multiple for people in specific professions

* individual banks’ terms can change at any time at their discretion. 

 

Other factors that affect how much you can borrow

Aside from your income, some of the most common factors that can impact how much you can borrow can be found below, but it’s important to bear in mind that each lender may apply these criteria differently:

Your profession

Lenders tend to favour those applicants that are in careers that they consider to be low-risk. Applicants in these careers are therefore often able to borrow higher multiples of their income from some lenders. This includes those with a clearly structured career path, such as police or similar key workers, or those that require a professional qualification, such as teachers, doctors, and solicitors.

Minimum income requirement

Not all lenders have a minimum income requirement, but those that do typically have stricter criteria the more you borrow. For example, of those lenders with a minimum income requirement who offer loans of up to 5 times your income, the minimum salary is £40k-£50k, whereas, for more typical borrowing, £20-£25k is standard.

Credit score

Lenders don’t list a minimum credit score requirement on their mortgage products, however, most will be looking for a strong overall credit profile, and the higher the level of borrowing, the less likely it is that a history of adverse credit will be acceptable.

This means that most high street lenders will be unlikely to offer the maximum income multiple that they have available to those with poor credit, even if their income is adequate.

Access your credit report through a free trial

Credit rating illustration
Get my FREE report

Existing financial responsibilities

Lenders will tend to use only your expendable income in their affordability assessments, deducting all of your existing outgoings from your annual income to find your debt-to-income ratio. Whatever’s left over is considered your actual ‘usable income’. If you have a high salary, but also very high outgoings, it could impact how much you can borrow.

For example:

Earnings = £100k

Outgoings = £30k

Usable income = £70k (this will be the figure that’s multiplied to calculate your loan)

While lenders want to get a clear picture of your finances, they won’t be checking up on every penny you spend or questioning your weekly supermarket shop. They will be interested though in other borrowing commitments that could impact your ability to meet your mortgage repayments, so this will include credit card debt, personal loans, hire purchase and other forms of debt.

Some common items that might show up on your credit file, such as mobile phone contracts, are often ignored for affordability calculations and if you have a debt that only has a few months left to run or is due to be cleared before you complete your house purchase, some lenders can ignore these too.

Debt to Income Ratio Calculator

This calculator allows you to calculate your debt-to-income ratio and will indicate whether mortgage lenders will classify it as low, medium, or high risk.

The amount you get paid each month, after any taxes or contributions have been deducted
£
Be sure to include all of your fixed outgoings, as well as any loans or credit card payments you make
£

Your Results:

Your Debt to Income Ratio is %

Good news! Most mortgage lenders will class your debt-to-income ratio as low. You’re unlikely to be declined for a mortgage based on your outgoings, but speaking to a mortgage broker before applying is still recommended as they can improve your chances of getting the best deal.

Most mortgage lenders will class your debt-to-income ratio as moderate, which means some of them might view your application with caution. Some lenders are much more strict than others when it comes to affordability and debt, so it’s important for you to find a lender who’s more lenient. You should speak to a mortgage broker before you apply to ensure you’re matched with a lender whose criteria you fit.

Most mortgage lenders will class your debt-to-income ratio as high. But that’s where we can help! With so much of your monthly income going towards debt repayments, you could struggle to get approved for a mortgage without the help of a mortgage broker. We can help you find a lender who’s more lenient on debt and affordability, and could still secure a mortgage approval.

Get Started

Employment type

As well as the profession you’re in, the way you’re employed can have an impact on how much you can borrow. On the whole, high street lenders tend to prefer employed applicants, as they’re considered lower risk. That said, self-employed applicants can generally achieve the same level of borrowing as other applicants, with 4.5  being typical, so long as they’re able to meet the lending criteria.

If you’re self-employed and looking to secure a loan based on higher income multiples, however, you’ll find that many lenders have specific requirements for the following…

  • Sole traders – Most lenders will use an average of the last 2-3 years’ net profits as your income figure.
  • Limited company directors – Most lenders use an average of your salary and dividends over the past 2-3 years as your income figure, although some will look at retained profits for limited company director mortgages.
  • Partners – Providing you own 25% share or more of the limited liability partnership, your share of average net profits over the last 2-3 years will be considered income for mortgage purposes.
  • Contractors – Lenders may use an annualised version of your day rate or an average of your net profits, depending on the type of contractor you are. Those working under umbrella companies will usually be treated as employees.

The good news is that there are lenders who specialise in self-employed lending, and they are much more likely to be able to accommodate higher lending limits for self-employed applicants. You can find out more in our guide to self-employed mortgages.

Get matched with a broker experienced in higher-income multiple mortgages

Mortgage calculators can be helpful, but If your main goal is to stretch your borrowing to achieve the highest mortgage possible, it’s important to find a lender that is flexible enough to consider that based on your individual circumstances. 

The whole-of-market brokers that we work with have access to every lender, so they can provide a bespoke calculation based on your exact circumstances, that considers every possibility. They also have strong working relationships with those lenders who are most likely to make the best use of your income.

So whether you’re self-employed, a professional, or are looking for a lender who will consider 100% of your supplemental income, they will know which lender will maximise your borrowing as far as possible.

Call us on 0808 189 2301 or make an enquiry to make use of our free mortgage broker matching service, and we’ll put you in touch with an expert broker who is best able to help you achieve your home ownership goals.

Maximise your chance of approval with a dedicated specialist broker

Get Started

Ask Us A Question

We know everyone's circumstances are different, that's why we work with mortgage brokers who are experts in all different mortgage subjects.

Ask us a question and we'll get the best expert to help.

Feefo 5 Stars
1 of 3
£
£
£
2 of 3
3 of 3 Send!

FAQs

In certain circumstances, it may be possible to borrow more than the maximum income limit of most lenders, which is typically 6 times your income. However, this level of borrowing is typically reserved for high-net-worth individuals. There are far fewer lenders equipped to deal with the often complex finances of high-net-worth individuals, but, those that are, tend to specialise in high net worth mortgages exclusively.

This type of applicant may be able to borrow 7 times their salary, or potentially even more than that, depending on their circumstances. A specialist broker will generally be needed to access this niche area of lending.

Ask a quick question

We can help!

We know everyone's circumstances are different, that's why we work with mortgage brokers who are experts in all different mortgage subjects.

Ask us a question and we'll get the best expert to help.

Get in touch today

Make an enquiry and we'll arrange for an experienced mortgage broker we work with to contact you straight away.

1 of 3
£
£
£
2 of 3
3 of 3 Send!

About the author

Pete, an expert in all things mortgages, cut his teeth right in the middle of the credit crunch. With plenty of people needing help and few mortgage providers lending, Pete found great success in going the extra mile to find mortgages for people whom many others considered lost causes. The experience he gained, coupled with his love of helping people reach their goals, led him to establish Online Mortgage Advisor, with one clear vision – to help as many customers as possible get the right advice, regardless of need or background.

Pete’s presence in the industry as the ‘go-to’ for specialist finance continues to grow, and he is regularly cited in and writes for both local and national press, as well as trade publications, with a regular column in Mortgage Introducer and being the exclusive mortgage expert for LOVEMoney. Pete also writes for Online Mortgage Advisor of course!

Read more about Pete

Pete Mugleston

Mortgage Advisor, MD

Maximise your chances of approval, whatever your situation - Find your perfect mortgage broker