How much can you buy · reverse estimate
How much house
can I afford?
Work backwards to your buying ceiling using the UK mortgage industry's standard rules (Bank of England 4.5× salary cap + 35% DTI + +3% stress test). Three tiers — conservative / standard / stretch — so you see what a lender would actually approve.
Your details
£
Use gross income; bonus usually counts at 50%
£
Leave at 0 if not applicable
£
Savings + family gift, minus moving costs etc.
£/mo
Lenders deduct this directly; more debt lowers your ceiling
Suggested buying ceiling (standard 4.5× multiple)
£242,500
Loan £202,500 · Deposit £40,000 · LTV 84%
Monthly
£1,213
DTI
37.7% ⚠
Stress-test pmt
£1,597 ⚠
Est. SDLT
£0
Three buying-ceiling tiers
Conservative4.0×
£220,000
Loan £180,000 · Safest; easy for most lenders to approve
Standard4.5×
£242,500
Loan £202,500 · BoE LTI cap; the industry default
Stretch5.5×
£287,500
Loan £247,500 · Only with high income + clean credit
From a lender's view
- DTI over 35% · most lenders would decline. Consider borrowing less or reducing existing monthly debt.
- Fails the stress test (rate +3%) · lenders worry about repayment if rates rise.
- First-time buyer SDLT relief: 0% ≤£425k, 5% £425k-£625k
Method: BoE Loan-to-Income flow limit 4.5× · DTI cap 35% · stress-test at rate+3% (FCA MCOB standard) · simplified SDLT (see InvestorView / SdltCard for detail). For personal guidance only — an actual mortgage offer depends on the lender's internal affordability model + credit score + proof of income.