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UK affordability tool

Mortgage Readiness Check

A quick, hedged read on whether your payslip income may support the property you have in mind.

What a result looks like

£45k income, £25k deposit, £250k home: borrowing range £180k-£202k, LTV 90%, stress test ok.

What we check

When to use this tool

What the result bands mean

Appears consistent

Within typical multiples and LTV.

Tight

Possible at some lenders - worth reviewing.

Outside

Bigger deposit or lower price likely needed.

Common mistakes

Worked example

Joint income £80k, deposit £40k, property £320k.

Range: 4.0x-4.5x = £320k-£360k. Property £320k just within reach. LTV 87.5%.

Stress test: monthly at 8% on £280k 25-yr ≈ £2,160. Net joint ≈ £4,800/mo. 45% - over the 35% bar - worth reviewing with a broker.

Frequently asked questions

Are these the income multiples lenders use?

4.0-4.5x is typical for mainstream UK lenders. Some go to 5x or higher under specific schemes.

Does this guarantee I can borrow?

No. We are not regulated. Lenders apply their own affordability and credit checks.

What deposit do I need?

5% minimum for most schemes; 10-15% gets meaningfully better rates.

What is LTV?

Loan-to-value: loan ÷ property price. Lower LTV = lower risk = better rates.

What is the stress test?

Lenders model whether you could afford payments if rates rose. We use +3% as a proxy.

Related guides

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Sources

  • FCA: Mortgage Conduct of Business sourcebook (MCOB).
  • Bank of England: published affordability stress guidance.

Last verified: 2026-05-03.

Disclaimer: PayslipIQ is not a regulated mortgage adviser. Speak to an FCA-authorised broker for advice.