{"id":580596,"date":"2026-10-14T18:18:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T17:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=580596"},"modified":"2026-10-14T18:21:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T17:21:12","slug":"mortgage-affordability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/mortgages\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\/mortgage-affordability","title":{"rendered":"How do I calculate my mortgage affordability?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"keyTakeaways\">\n  <div class=\"keyTakeaways__header\">\n          <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"21\" viewbox=\"0 0 314.16 201.03\" fill=\"none\">\n  <path d=\"M212.32,190.62c-19.66,0-38.8-6.44-54.42-18.24-15.63,11.79-34.77,18.24-54.42,18.24-49.84,0-90.39-40.55-90.39-90.39V9.83h199.24c49.84,0,90.39,40.55,90.39,90.39s-40.55,90.39-90.39,90.39Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path>\n  <path d=\"M212.32,15.9c46.57,0,84.33,37.75,84.33,84.33h0c0,46.57-37.75,84.33-84.33,84.33h0c-20.75,0-39.74-7.51-54.42-19.94-14.69,12.43-33.68,19.94-54.42,19.94h0c-46.57,0-84.33-37.75-84.33-84.33V15.9h193.18M212.32,3.76H7.01v96.46c0,53.19,43.27,96.46,96.46,96.46,19.47,0,38.46-5.92,54.43-16.84,15.96,10.91,34.95,16.84,54.42,16.84,53.19,0,96.46-43.27,96.46-96.46S265.51,3.76,212.32,3.76h0Z\" fill=\"#232320\"><\/path>\n  <path d=\"M216.34,90.21c.19-1.69,1.76-2.87,3.43-2.6,11.91,1.94,22.41-7.31,20.93-20.1-.45-3.93-2.28-6.56-4.43-9.31-1.05-1.35-.74-3.34.71-4.26,15.6-9.82,31.64-1.91,40.78,13.29,11.21,18.64,11.54,47.15.53,65.94-15.41,26.3-42.91,23.48-56.04-3.04-6.09-12.29-7.47-26.4-5.92-39.93Z\" fill=\"#232320\"><\/path>\n  <path d=\"M105.92,90.21c.19-1.69,1.76-2.87,3.43-2.6,11.91,1.94,22.41-7.31,20.93-20.1-.45-3.93-2.28-6.56-4.43-9.31-1.05-1.35-.74-3.34.71-4.26,15.6-9.82,31.64-1.91,40.78,13.29,11.21,18.64,11.54,47.15.53,65.94-15.41,26.3-42.91,23.48-56.04-3.04-6.09-12.29-7.47-26.4-5.92-39.93Z\" fill=\"#232320\"><\/path>\n<\/svg>        <h3 data-toc=\"false\">Key takeaways<\/h3>\n  <\/div>\n\n    <ul>\n          <li>Mortgage affordability depends on more than salary \u2013 income, outgoings, commitments and job security all factor in.<\/li>\n          <li>Lenders typically cap borrowing at 4.5x annual income, but some first-time buyer mortgage options (like Lloyds\u2019 First Time Buyer Boost) go up to 5.5x.<\/li>\n          <li>Lenders \u201cstress test\u201d your ability to cope with higher interest rates before approving a mortgage.<\/li>\n          <li>A bigger deposit reduces how much you need to borrow and can unlock better rates via a lower LTV.<\/li>\n          <li>Online calculators give useful rough estimates, while an Agreement in Principle with a soft credit check gives a much more accurate figure.<\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n\n  \n  <\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/mortgages\/first-time-buyer-statistics\">average first-time buyer<\/a> needed \u00a345,860 for a 20% deposit in July 2026. In London, the average was more than twice as high. So buying a first home might feel like a distant dream for many people. <\/p><p>One of the first things you might want to do is to try to calculate how much you\u2019ll be able to borrow and how much you\u2019re comfortable repaying each month. The government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moneyhelper.org.uk\/en\/homes\/buying-a-home\/mortgage-affordability-calculator\" target=\"_blank\">MoneyHelper site has a great tool<\/a> you can use to get a sense of benchmark figures based on your circumstances.<\/p><p>Ultimately, both you and the bank lending to you need to be comfortable that the mortgage you have in mind would be affordable. After all, nobody knows your personal situation better then you, and banks have to be experts at weighing up what\u2019s affordable. <\/p><p>There are plenty of great resources available to help you if you know where to look. Lloyds, for example, has a helpful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lloydsbank.com\/mortgages\/first-time-buyers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\">first-time buyers hub<\/a> with both mortgage products and support to help you get a foot on the housing ladder.<\/p><h3>What goes into lender affordability calculations?<\/h3><p>Every lender is different and has its own criteria. But all lenders will look at your income, regular expenses, any existing debts you have and household circumstances, such as how many people are financially dependent on you.<\/p><p>Factors that lenders consider include:<\/p><ul><li>Gross income (or net profit if you\u2019re self-employed)<\/li><li>Any existing loans and credit commitments you have<\/li><li>Regular household spending, including rent, bills and groceries<\/li><li>Number of dependants<\/li><li>Childcare and other financial commitments<\/li><li>Your employment status and income stability<\/li><li>Your deposit and how much you want to borrow<\/li><\/ul><p>Lenders will also assess whether you could continue to afford your mortgage if circumstances changed, such as an increase in interest rates. This is known as a mortgage stress test and helps them assess whether the proposed borrowing is sustainable. <\/p><h3>What income is used to calculate mortgage affordability?<\/h3><p>Gross income is used to calculate mortgage affordability, but it isn\u2019t the only factor. Lenders will also evaluate your net income and any extra income you get on top of your salary.<\/p><p>If you\u2019re self-employed, lenders may assess your income differently. They could consider factors such as your net profit, salary and dividends. It\u2019s likely you\u2019ll be asked to show your income for previous years as well. <\/p><p>The way different types of income are treated varies between lenders, so the amount you can borrow may differ depending on where you apply.<\/p><h3>What outgoings are included in an affordability assessment?<\/h3><p>When doing an affordability assessment, lenders generally look at your regular household expenditure to understand how much money you have available after you\u2019ve paid your bills. This can include:<\/p><ul><li>Rent or existing housing costs<\/li><li>Council tax<\/li><li>Utility bills<\/li><li>Food and household expenses<\/li><li>Transport costs<\/li><li>Childcare costs<\/li><li>Insurance<\/li><li>Loan and credit card repayments<\/li><li>Other regular financial commitments<\/li><\/ul><p>Lenders look at these outgoings to help them determine whether your spending habits are proportionate to your income. If you\u2019re regularly spending too much and have a lot of debt, it could impact the amount of money a bank is willing to lend you.<\/p><h3>How do lenders calculate mortgage affordability?<\/h3><p>Lenders look at how much you earn and how much you spend. This gives them an understanding of your finances so they can calculate how much you can borrow. <\/p><p>But there isn\u2019t a single calculation that applies to everyone. Lenders use their own affordability criteria, and they may assess income and expenditure differently. So the same applicant could be offered quite different maximum mortgages from 2 different mortgage providers.<\/p><p>Some lenders also apply income multiples as part of their assessment. A common amount is 4.5x your income, but there are specialist schemes to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder. As an example, Lloyds lends up to 5.5x your income with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lloydsbank.com\/mortgages\/first-time-buyers\/first-time-buyer-boost-mortgage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\">First Time Buyer Boost<\/a> scheme.<\/p><article class=\"luna-card luna-card--primary\"><div class=\"luna-card__block\"><h4 class=\"luna-card__title luna-card__title--small\">Example mortgage affordability calculation<\/h4><p>We ran Lloyds\u2019 first-time buyer mortgage calculator with the following inputs:<\/p><ul><li>2 joint appliants<\/li><li>Each earning \u00a332,000<\/li><li>No kids<\/li><li>No credit card debt<\/li><li>One paying \u00a3100 per month towards a personal loan<\/li><li>Both paying \u00a320 per month towards student loans<\/li><\/ul><p>Maximum mortgage <strong>\u00a3352,000<\/strong> (over 25 years). That\u2019s 5.5 x \u00a364,000 (the combined annual income).<\/p><\/div><\/article><h3>How do interest rates affect mortgage affordability?<\/h3><p>Outside of any fixed-rate periods, changing interest rates will affect the size of your monthly mortgage payments, and therefore the amount you might be able to borrow.<\/p><p>When rates are higher, the cost of servicing a mortgage will also be higher. This will mean higher monthly repayments, which could reduce the amount a lender considers affordable.<\/p><p>For example, if 2 mortgages have the same balance and term but different interest rates, the mortgage with the higher rate will normally have the higher monthly repayment.<\/p><p>Lenders will also look at if you could afford to continue paying your mortgage if interest rates increased. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires lenders to question whether you\u2019d be able afford your mortgage repayments if rates rose. Specifically, until 2022, the Bank of England\u2019s Financial Policy Committee recommended that borrowers should be able to comfortably cope with a three-percentage-point rise (e.g. from 4% to 7%) in rates during the first five years of their mortgage. MoneyHelper\u2019s mortgage affordability calculator simulates a 3%, 4% and 5% rate rise for you, which is a handy way to model the impact on your bank balance each month.<\/p><article class=\"luna-card luna-card--primary\"><div class=\"luna-card__block\"><h4 class=\"luna-card__title luna-card__title--small\">Example mortgage affordability stress test<\/h4><p>We ran MoneyHelper\u2019s mortgage affordabilty calculator with the following inputs:<\/p><ul><li>2 joint appliants<\/li><li>Each earning \u00a332,000<\/li><li>No kids<\/li><li>No credit card debt<\/li><li>One paying \u00a3100 per month towards a personal loan<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a340 per month towards student loans<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a3350 per month on travel<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a3420 per month on household bills<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a3400 per month on food and essentials<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a3220 per month on entertainment\/leisure<\/li><li>Paying a combined \u00a3420 per month towards holidayss<\/li><\/ul><p>On a \u00a3202,540 mortgage over 25 years, the estimated monthly repayments was estimated based on a 4% interest rate, with additional estimates for 7%, 8% and 9%:<\/p><table class=\"luna-table u-bg--background-main\"><thead class=\"luna-table__header\"><tr><th scope=\"col\">Interest rate<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Monthly repayment<\/th><th scope=\"col\">Left over<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody class=\"luna-table__body\"><tr><th scope=\"row\">4%<\/th><td>\u00a31,069.08<\/td><td>\u00a31,588.92<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">7%<\/th><td>\u00a31,431.51<\/td><td>\u00a31,226.49<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">8%<\/th><td>\u00a31,567.24<\/td><td>\u00a31,094.76<\/td><\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\">9%<\/th><td>\u00a31,699.71<\/td><td>\u00a3958.29<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/article><h3>How accurate are mortgage affordability calculators?<\/h3><p>Mortgage affordability calculators are as accurate as the information you put in them, but are designed to provide a quick estimate of how much you can borrow. Use a calculator as a starting point rather than a guarantee.<\/p><p>An \u201cAgreement in Principle\u201d is the next step up from a quick calculator. This will involve a \u201csoft\u201d search of your credit file (so it won\u2019t impact your credit score). It\u2019ll take 3-4 minutes longer but will give you a more accurate figure to work with.<\/p><h3>How does your deposit affect mortgage affordability?<\/h3><p>The larger your deposit, the less you need to borrow with a mortgage. A larger deposit can also mean a lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and can give you access to a wider range of mortgage options or lower interest rates.<\/p><p>It can be hard to save up for a large deposit, so some lenders allow first-time buyers to buy with a smaller deposit. For example, Lloyds has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lloydsbank.com\/mortgages\/first-time-buyers\/5k-deposit-mortgage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow\">\u201c\u00a35k Deposit mortgage\u201d<\/a> available for eligible first-time buyers, which is equivalent to around a 98% LTV on the maximum property value of \u00a3300,000. Most high street lenders also offer 95% LTV mortgages (meaning a 5% minimum deposit) since the UK government introduced the mortgage guarantee scheme. <\/p><h3>How can first-time buyers improve their affordability?<\/h3><p>First-time buyers can improve their affordability by paying off debt, saving a larger deposit and getting their finances in order. <\/p><p>It\u2019s also worth reviewing your regular spending and creating a realistic household budget. If you can reduce spending then it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll have more money to save.<\/p><p>While it\u2019s a good idea to reduce your spending, you need to be sustainable about it. Don\u2019t cut essential spending just to improve your affordability assessment. You need to make sure a mortgage remains affordable for you in the long term and shouldn\u2019t just focus on maximising the amount you can borrow now.<\/p><p>It\u2019s also worth checking your credit score and report. If there\u2019s anything on there that\u2019s incorrect, you can take steps to get that sorted in advance of applying for a mortgage. <\/p><p>And one final thing, try to limit any new account or credit applications in the lead-up to applying for a mortgage, because multiple hard credit searches can impact your credit score. <\/p><div class=\"u-grid has-padding-top-small\"><div class=\"u-grid__col u-1\/2 u-1\/4@s\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_screenshot.png\" alt=\"A smartphone showing the start screen of Lloyds' first-time buyer mortgage affordability calculator.\" width=\"300\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_screenshot.png?fit=180 180w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_screenshot.png?fit=360 360w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_screenshot.png?fit=600 600w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_screenshot.png?fit=900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 50vw, 900px\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"u-grid__col u-1\/2 u-1\/4@s\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_result_screenshot.png\" alt=\"A smartphone showing the results screen of Lloyds' first-time buyer mortgage affordability calculator\" width=\"300\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_result_screenshot.png?fit=180 180w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_result_screenshot.png?fit=360 360w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_result_screenshot.png?fit=600 600w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_result_screenshot.png?fit=900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 50vw, 900px\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"u-grid__col u-1\/2 u-1\/4@s\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_costs_screenshot.png\" alt=\"A smartphone showing other estimated costs (such as legal and valuation costs) on Lloyds' first-time buyer mortgage affordability calculator\" width=\"300\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_costs_screenshot.png?fit=180 180w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_costs_screenshot.png?fit=360 360w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_costs_screenshot.png?fit=600 600w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_calculator_costs_screenshot.png?fit=900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 50vw, 900px\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><div class=\"u-grid__col u-1\/2 u-1\/4@s\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_neighbourhood_guide_2_screenshot.png\" alt=\"A smartphone showing Lloyds' neighbourhood guide tool which compares a specified neighbourhood against national averages on factors such as living costs and transport links.\" width=\"300\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_neighbourhood_guide_2_screenshot.png?fit=180 180w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_neighbourhood_guide_2_screenshot.png?fit=360 360w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_neighbourhood_guide_2_screenshot.png?fit=600 600w, https:\/\/www.finder.com\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/lloyds_first_time_buyer_neighbourhood_guide_2_screenshot.png?fit=900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 50vw, 900px\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"luna-caption has-padding-bottom-large\">Lloyds offers first-time buyers a handy suite of tools ranging from a quick calculator to get a sense of budget and affordability, through to a neighbourhood check tool which compares a specified neighbourhood against national averages on factors such as living costs and transport links<\/div><h3>Bottom line<\/h3><p>Mortgage affordability depends on more than just your salary. Lenders always look at your income, spending, debts, deposit and wider financial circumstances to determine how much they believe you can sustainably borrow.<\/p><p>You can use an affordability calculator to help you get an idea of how much you can borrow, but treat it as an estimate. Once you\u2019re ready to apply, a lender or qualified mortgage adviser can provide a more detailed assessment to find the best mortgage for your circumstances.<\/p><h3>Frequently asked questions<\/h3><div><div>\n    <h4>What income is used to calculate mortgage affordability?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>Your salary, self-employed income, bonuses, commission, overtime and other regular sources of income are used to calculate how much you can afford to borrow. Lenders all have different criteria and lending limits.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Does my student loan count as a monthly loan repayment for mortgage affordability calculators?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>Generally yes. Lloyds' first-time buyer calculator, for example, asks if you make any monthly payments towards loans, and you should declare your student loan payments here.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Does my deposit affect how much I can borrow?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>Yes. A larger deposit generally means you need to borrow less and may give you access to a lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, which can potentially improve the mortgage rates available to you.<\/p><p>Lenders tend to structure their mortgage products with interest rate \"bands\" \u2013 charging higher rates on higher LTVs (since there's more risk). The interest rate is one of the main factors determining the size of your monthly repayment. Therefore, if you were putting down a 9.5% deposit but a lower rate was available from 10%, it could be really worth trying to find a little extra to reach the minimum deposit for that next rate band. It could make your mortgage overall more affordable and improve your likelihood of being approved.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Do existing debts affect mortgage affordability?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>Yes, credit cards, personal loans, car finance, student loans, and other financial commitments can reduce the amount a lender may be willing to lend because these all have an impact on your monthly disposable income. It can be a good idea to pay these off before you apply for a mortgage, if possible.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Can I include my partner's income?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>If you're a couple buying a house together, then lenders will usually consider both of your incomes and expenses to assess your affordability.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Are mortgage affordability calculators accurate?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>A calculator is only as accurate as the information you provide. Even then it's just an estimate based on those numbers and a lender's own criteria. It gives you a good starting point but you'll need to make an application to know how much you can actually borrow.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>What information do I need to calculate affordability?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>You'll need information about your income, how large your deposit is, any existing debts you have, your monthly expenses and any other relevant financial commitments, such as how many dependants you have.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>How can I improve my mortgage affordability?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>You can try to improve your affordability by paying off debt, saving for a larger deposit, earning more money or reducing your expenses. It's important not to take on a mortgage that would put your finances under unnecessary pressure.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n    <h4>Does affordability mean I should borrow the maximum amount available?<\/h4>\n    <div>\n        <div>\n            <p>No, you should always borrow an amount that you'll be able to continue paying back long into the future. The maximum amount a lender offers isn't necessarily the amount you should borrow.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"sources\" style=\"position: relative;\"><h3 style=\"position: absolute; width: 1px; height: 1px; padding: 0; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0,0,0,0); white-space: nowrap; border: 0;\">Sources<\/h3>\n<div id=\"lazy0000000000\"><\/div>\n<script type=\"application\/json\" id=\"lazyloaded-assets-json-lazy0000000000\" class=\"lazyloaded-assets-json\">{\"critical-scripts\":[],\"scripts\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/parent-theme\\\/shortcodes\\\/article-source\\\/prod\\\/article-source.de087a0da9824e407767.js\"],\"styles\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/parent-theme\\\/shortcodes\\\/article-source\\\/prod\\\/article-source.87684078d471e76125dd.css\"]}<\/script><\/div><article class=\"luna-card luna-card--alt\"><div class=\"luna-card__block has-padding-small\">Think carefully before securing debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Lending is subject to status.<\/div><\/article>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It can be hard to know how much mortgage to take on when buying your first home. This guide will help you understand how the process works. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":639,"featured_media":581635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"mortgage affordability","_yoast_wpseo_title":"How do I calculate my mortgage affordability? | Finder UK","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Here's how lenders weigh up what's manageable... and how you can too.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"post_is_fact_checked":"false","post_co_author":"-1","post_co_author_date":null,"post_co_author_manual_date_checked":"false","post_reviewer":"-1","post_reviewer_date":"","post_reviewer_manual_date_checked":"false","post_editor":"-1","post_editor_date":null,"post_author_date":"2026-09-16T12:50:40","post_author_manual_date_checked":"false","_last_updated_date_data":"{\"is_updated_date_published\":true,\"last_updated_date\":\"2026-10-14 17:18:25\",\"timezone_offset\":\" +00:00\",\"last_update_summary\":\"\"}","_last_major_update":"","_search_priority":0,"feature_finder_bot_teaser_enabled":false,"feature_finder_bot_teaser_message":"","feature_finder_bot_teaser_placeholder":"","feature_finder_bot_teaser_suggestions":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22879],"tags":[129658],"asset_tag":[],"class_list":["post-580596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-time-buyer-mortgages","tag-latest-3-latest"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6.1 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How do I calculate my mortgage affordability? | Finder UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here&#039;s how lenders weigh up what&#039;s manageable... and how you can too.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/mortgages\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\/mortgage-affordability\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How do I calculate my mortgage affordability?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here&#039;s how lenders weigh up what&#039;s manageable... and how you can too.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/mortgages\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\/mortgage-affordability\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Finder UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/findercomuk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T17:18:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.finder.com.au\/finder-us\/wp-uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/10\/mortgage_affordability_250_250.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"250\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"250\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jason Loewenthal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@findercomUK\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@findercomUK\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jason Loewenthal\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Jason Loewenthal\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/9e17420e96fcfdf0d0fd4a676608e6df\"},\"headline\":\"How do I calculate my mortgage affordability?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T17:18:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T18:18:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability\"},\"wordCount\":2273,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cdn.finder.com.au\\\/finder-us\\\/wp-uploads\\\/sites\\\/3\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/mortgage_affordability_250_250.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"First-time buyer mortgages\"],\"inLanguage\":{\"@type\":\"Language\",\"name\":\"English\",\"alternateName\":\"en\"},\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/#organization\"},\"citation\":[{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"Moneyhelper mortgage calculator\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.moneyhelper.org.uk\\\/en\\\/homes\\\/buying-a-home\\\/mortgage-affordability-calculator\"},{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"Lloyds mortgage calculator\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/mortgages.secure.lloydsbank.co.uk\\\/homes\\\/?action=mortgage_calculator\"},{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"Finder first-time buyers statistics\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-statistics\"},{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"Lloyds first-time buyers hub\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.lloydsbank.com\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyers.html\"},{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"FCA \\\"stress test\\\" rule for lenders\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.fca.org.uk\\\/firms\\\/interest-rate-stress-test-rule\"},{\"@type\":\"CreativeWork\",\"name\":\"Bank of England removal of specific affordability test recommendation\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.bankofengland.co.uk\\\/Paper\\\/2022\\\/withdrawal-of-the-fpcs-affordability-test-recommendation\"}],\"commentCount\":0},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.finder.com\\\/uk\\\/mortgages\\\/first-time-buyer-mortgages\\\/mortgage-affordability\",\"name\":\"How do I calculate my mortgage affordability? 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Lenders all have different criteria and lending limits."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does my student loan count as a monthly loan repayment for mortgage affordability calculators?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Generally yes. Lloyds' first-time buyer calculator, for example, asks if you make any monthly payments towards loans, and you should declare your student loan payments here."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Does my deposit affect how much I can borrow?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. A larger deposit generally means you need to borrow less and may give you access to a lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, which can potentially improve the mortgage rates available to you. Lenders tend to structure their mortgage products with interest rate \"bands\" \u2013 charging higher rates on higher LTVs (since there's more risk). The interest rate is one of the main factors determining the size of your monthly repayment. 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