How much mortgage can we get on 80k joint income?

On a combined income of £80,000, most lenders will offer between £320,000 and £360,000 using a 4-4.5x combined income multiple. With a 10% deposit, you could buy a property worth £356,000-£400,000. This opens up comfortable family homes in most of the UK.

Can we afford a £400,000 house on 80k joint?

Yes — with a 10% deposit (£40,000), you'd need a £360,000 mortgage (4.5x income). Monthly payments would be about £1,824 at 4.5% over 30 years. Combined take-home on £80k (two earners on £40k each) is roughly £4,776, so payments are about 38% — within most lenders' comfort zone.

Is it better to have one earner on 80k or two on 40k?

For mortgage borrowing, the amount is similar. But two earners on £40k take home about £4,776/month combined, while one earner on £80k takes home about £4,748. Two incomes is also less risky — if one person loses their job, the other's income provides a safety net. However, one higher earner may qualify for professional mortgage products.

Can we buy a house in London on 80k joint?

On £80k combined, you can afford a 1-2 bed flat in London (zones 3-5). For a family home in London, you'd need a larger deposit or to look at outer zones and shared ownership. A combined income of £100k+ makes London family homes more realistic.

How Much Mortgage on a £80k Joint Income — UK Borrowing Guide | PocketWise

How Much Mortgage on a £80k Joint Income — UK Borrowing Guide

How much mortgage can you get on a combined household income of £80,000? Full breakdown of borrowing limits, what you can buy across the UK, monthly payments, and joint application tips.

By PocketWise · 8 April 2026 · 2 min read

A combined household income of £80,000 gives you strong buying power for a family home across most of the UK. Here’s the full borrowing picture.

How Much Can You Borrow?

Lender Type	Income Multiple	Maximum Mortgage
Most high-street lenders	4-4.5× combined	£320,000-£360,000
Building societies	Up to 5× combined	£400,000
Specialist lenders	5.5× combined	£440,000

With a Deposit

Deposit %	Deposit on £400k Property	Mortgage Needed	Max Purchase
5%	£20,000	£380,000	£337,000-£400,000
10%	£40,000	£360,000	£400,000
15%	£60,000	£340,000	£400,000-£424,000
20%	£80,000	£320,000	£400,000-£450,000

Monthly Payments

Mortgage Amount	Rate	Term	Monthly Payment	% of Combined Take-Home (~£4,776)
£320,000	4.5%	25 years	£1,779	37%
£320,000	4.5%	30 years	£1,621	34%
£360,000	4.5%	25 years	£2,001	42%
£360,000	4.5%	30 years	£1,824	38%
£400,000	4.5%	30 years	£2,027	42%

What Can You Buy on £80k Joint?

Region	Budget (10% deposit)	What You Can Buy
North East	£360,000-£400,000	4-5 bed detached, premium areas
North West	£360,000-£400,000	4 bed, Altrincham/Didsbury/Hale
Yorkshire	£360,000-£400,000	4 bed, Harrogate/Ilkley
Wales	£360,000-£400,000	Large detached, Cardiff best areas
West Midlands	£360,000-£400,000	4 bed, Solihull/Sutton Coldfield
Scotland	£360,000-£400,000	3-4 bed, central Edinburgh
Northern Ireland	£360,000-£400,000	Premium detached, best locations
South West	£360,000-£400,000	3-4 bed, Bristol/Bath suburbs
South East	£360,000-£400,000	2-3 bed, commuter towns
London	£360,000-£400,000	1-2 bed flat (zone 3-5)

Family Budget Breakdown

Monthly Budget (couple, £40k each)	Amount
Combined take-home	£4,776
Mortgage (£360k, 30yr, 4.5%)	-£1,824
Council tax	-£180
Utilities	-£180
Food (family)	-£420
Transport (both)	-£220
Insurance	-£120
Phone / broadband	-£85
Remaining	~£1,747

With Childcare

Scenario	Monthly Childcare Cost	Remaining After Childcare
No children	£0	£1,747
1 child (nursery)	£800-£1,200	£547-£947
2 children (nursery)	£1,600-£2,400	-£653 to £147
1 school age + 1 nursery	£1,000-£1,500	£247-£747
Both school age	£200-£400 (wraparound)	£1,347-£1,547

Two children in nursery on £80k joint is extremely tight at this mortgage level. Many families delay buying until childcare costs reduce, or buy a less expensive property.

Stamp Duty at This Budget

Property Price	Stamp Duty (non-FTB)	Stamp Duty (FTB)
£350,000	£5,000	£0
£375,000	£6,250	£0
£400,000	£7,500	£0
£425,000	£8,750	£0

First-time buyers pay no stamp duty on properties up to £425,000 — a significant saving at this budget level.

Tips for Joint Applications

Check both credit reports before applying — fix any issues on either report
Disclose all debts from both applicants — undisclosed debts can cause declines
Consider a Declaration of Trust if contributing unequal deposits
Agree on tenancy type — joint tenants (equal shares, right of survivorship) or tenants in common (specified shares)
Get life insurance — the mortgage needs to be covered if one partner dies or becomes critically ill