Question 1

How much can I borrow for a UK mortgage?

Accepted Answer

Most UK lenders offer between 3.5× and 4.5× your gross annual income. For example, on a £50,000 salary you could typically borrow £175,000–£225,000. Lenders also run affordability and stress tests, so the actual offer depends on your outgoings and credit profile.

Question 2

What is a mortgage income multiple?

Accepted Answer

A mortgage income multiple is the number of times your annual salary a lender will offer as a loan. The standard range is 3.5× to 4.5×, with some specialist lenders offering up to 5× or 5.5× for higher earners or key workers.

Question 3

What is a mortgage stress test?

Accepted Answer

Lenders test whether you could still afford repayments if interest rates rose by 2–3 percentage points above your mortgage rate. Passing this test is required for most residential mortgage approvals in the UK since the Bank of England's affordability rules.

Question 4

Does the calculator include my deposit?

Accepted Answer

The Maximum Mortgage mode shows borrowing capacity based on income multiples — your deposit is separate and determines your Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio, which affects the interest rate you are offered. The Repayment Cost mode lets you enter any mortgage amount to calculate monthly payments.