How much can I borrow for a mortgage UK 2025?

Typically 4-4.5× your annual income. Earning £50,000? Expect to borrow £200,000-225,000. Some lenders offer 5-5.5× for high earners or professionals. Joint applications combine incomes. Actual amount depends on outgoings, credit score, and deposit.

How much deposit do I need for a house UK?

Minimum 5% for most mortgages, but 10-15% gets better rates. For a £300,000 house: 5% = £15,000, 10% = £30,000, 15% = £45,000. First-time buyers often start at 5-10%. Larger deposits mean lower monthly payments.

What salary do I need for a £300,000 mortgage UK?

At 4.5× income, you'd need £66,700 salary for £300,000 mortgage. At 4×, you'd need £75,000. Joint applicants combine incomes. With £30,000 deposit, this buys a £330,000 property.

Can I afford a house on £30,000 salary UK?

On £30,000, you could borrow £120,000-135,000 (4-4.5×). With 10% deposit (£13,500), you could buy up to £133,500-148,500. Affordable in many UK areas but challenging in London and South East.

How Much House Can I Afford UK?

Calculate how much house you can afford in the UK. Mortgage affordability, deposit requirements, and real costs of buying a home at different price points.

By PocketWise · 23 March 2026 · 4 min read

Working out how much house you can afford involves more than just the mortgage. Here’s your complete guide.

How Much Can You Borrow?

Income Multiples

Lender Type	Multiple	£40k Salary	£60k Salary
Standard	4×	£160,000	£240,000
Standard	4.5×	£180,000	£270,000
Professional/High earner	5×	£200,000	£300,000
Maximum (rare)	5.5×	£220,000	£330,000

Joint Income Calculation

Your Salary	Partner Salary	Combined	Max Mortgage (4.5×)
£30,000	£30,000	£60,000	£270,000
£40,000	£35,000	£75,000	£337,500
£50,000	£40,000	£90,000	£405,000
£60,000	£50,000	£110,000	£495,000

What Affects Your Multiple

Factor	Impact
High income (£75k+)	May get 5× or more
Professional (doctor, lawyer)	Better multiples available
Large deposit (25%+)	Some lenders offer more
Existing debts	Reduces what you can borrow
Credit score	Affects approval

Deposit Requirements

Deposit by House Price

House Price	5% Deposit	10% Deposit	15% Deposit
£200,000	£10,000	£20,000	£30,000
£250,000	£12,500	£25,000	£37,500
£300,000	£15,000	£30,000	£45,000
£350,000	£17,500	£35,000	£52,500
£400,000	£20,000	£40,000	£60,000

Why Bigger Deposits Help

Deposit	Benefit
5% (95% LTV)	Gets you on ladder, higher rates
10% (90% LTV)	Much better rates, more choice
15% (85% LTV)	Good rates
20%+ (80% LTV)	Best rates available
25%+	Rate improvements slow down

Maximum House Price Calculator

Formula

Calculation	Example
Maximum mortgage	£225,000
+ Your deposit	+ £25,000
= Maximum house price	= £250,000

By Salary (10% Deposit, 4.5× Multiple)

Salary	Max Mortgage	+ 10% Deposit	Max House
£25,000	£112,500	£12,500	£125,000
£30,000	£135,000	£15,000	£150,000
£40,000	£180,000	£20,000	£200,000
£50,000	£225,000	£25,000	£250,000
£60,000	£270,000	£30,000	£300,000
£75,000	£337,500	£37,500	£375,000

Monthly Payment Affordability

What Lenders Allow

Income	Typically Max Monthly Payment
Below £30k	28-30% of gross
£30k-50k	30-35% of gross
£50k+	35-40% of gross

Monthly Payments by Mortgage Size (5% Rate, 25yr)

Mortgage	Monthly Payment	Salary Needed*
£150,000	£877	£30,000
£200,000	£1,169	£40,000
£250,000	£1,461	£50,000
£300,000	£1,754	£60,000
£350,000	£2,046	£70,000
£400,000	£2,338	£80,000

*Approximate based on 35% of gross income

Stress Testing

Lenders Check	Rate Used
Current affordability	Actual rate offered
Stress test	3%+ above current rate
You must afford	Both scenarios

True Cost of Buying

Upfront Costs (First-Time Buyer, £300k Property)

Cost	Amount
Deposit (10%)	£30,000
Stamp Duty	£0 (FTB relief to £425k)
Legal fees	£1,500-2,500
Survey	£400-1,500
Mortgage fees	£0-1,500
Moving costs	£500-2,000
Total needed	£32,400-37,500

Ongoing Costs to Budget

Monthly Cost	Typical Amount
Mortgage payment	£1,200-1,800
Buildings insurance	£20-40
Contents insurance	£15-30
Council Tax (Band D)	£150-200
Energy bills	£150-250
Water	£30-50
Maintenance fund	£100-200
Total monthly	£1,665-2,570

Affordability by Region

Average House Prices (2025)

Region	Average Price	Deposit (10%)	Salary Needed
North East	£170,000	£17,000	£34,000
North West	£215,000	£21,500	£43,000
Yorkshire	£205,000	£20,500	£41,000
East Midlands	£245,000	£24,500	£49,000
West Midlands	£250,000	£25,000	£50,000
East of England	£340,000	£34,000	£68,000
South West	£320,000	£32,000	£64,000
South East	£400,000	£40,000	£80,000
London	£535,000	£53,500	£107,000
Wales	£210,000	£21,000	£42,000
Scotland	£195,000	£19,500	£39,000

What Reduces Affordability

Common Issues

Factor	Impact
Credit card debt	Reduces borrowing
Car finance	Counts against you
Student loans	Some lenders count
Childcare costs	Factored into affordability
Other commitments	Phone contracts etc

Improving Affordability

Action	Benefit
Pay off credit cards	More disposable income
Reduce regular outgoings	Better affordability
Increase deposit	Borrow less
Joint application	Combined income
Longer mortgage term	Lower monthly payments

Help Available

First-Time Buyer Support

Scheme	Benefit
Lifetime ISA	25% bonus up to £4k/year
Stamp Duty relief	£0 up to £425k (FTB)
Shared Ownership	Buy 25-75% share
First Homes	30%+ discount
Guarantor mortgages	Family support

LISA Savings Example

Years Saving	Your Contributions	Bonus	Total
3	£12,000	£3,000	£15,000
5	£20,000	£5,000	£25,000
7	£28,000	£7,000	£35,000

Reality Check

Can You Actually Afford It?

Question	Be Honest
Comfortable with payments?	Not just “afford”
Buffer for rate rises?	+2% on rate
Emergency fund remains?	3+ months expenses
Lifestyle acceptable?	After all costs
Job security?	Payments during uncertainty

Stress Test Yourself

Current Rate	Stress Rate	Your Payment
4.5%	6.5%	Can you afford?
5%	7%	Can you afford?
5.5%	7.5%	Can you afford?

Summary

Quick Calculation

Step	Your Numbers
Your salary (or combined)	£_______
× 4.5 = max mortgage	£_______
+ Your deposit	+ £_______
= Max house price	£_______
- Buying costs (~£5,000-10,000)	- £_______
= True budget	£_______

What to Do Next

Priority	Action
1	Check credit report
2	Calculate your budget
3	Get mortgage in principle
4	Build deposit
5	Research areas in budget
6	Consider help available

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. PocketWise provides information and guidance — we do not offer financial advice. Seek independent mortgage advice before making decisions about borrowing.