Free tool · One house, the whole picture

Can I afford this house?

Enter the price of a house you like. See the mortgage you’d need, what it would cost each month and the cash you’d need upfront. Add your income to see whether it looks within reach.

Your details

The house and you

House priceThat's £240,000 — change it to the house you're looking at.

Deposit

Deposit as % of the priceThat's £24,000.

Who's buying?

Your income before tax, per year (optional)Add it to see whether this house looks within reach.

First-time buyer?

Where is the house?

Your assumptions · 5% over 30 years · £350 a month council tax and bills

Mortgage rate

Mortgage term in years

Council tax per monthAn example figure — check the band for this house.

Energy, water and broadband per monthAn example figure — change it to your own.

Can I afford it?

Add your income to see if it looks within reach

The costs below don't need it. With your income, we'll compare the mortgage with what lenders typically offer and the monthly cost with your take-home pay.

The mortgage

You'd need to borrow £216,000

With a £24,000 deposit (10% of £240,000).

That’s a 90% mortgage — lenders call this the loan-to-value, or LTV. You are between 85% and 90% LTV. This can still be workable, but increasing the deposit may improve product choice.

Every month

About £1,510 a month to live there

Mortgage repayment 5% over 30 years: £1,160
Council tax example: £150
Energy, water and broadband example: £200
Total a month: £1,510

If rates rise by 2 percentage points (to 7%), the repayment would be £1,437 a month, and the total £1,787 a month (£278 more).

Before you move in

About £26,600 in cash

Deposit: £24,000
Stamp Duty with first-time buyer relief: £0
Solicitor estimate: £1,200
Survey estimate: £600
Moving estimate: £800
Cash needed: £26,600

Solicitor, survey and moving costs are typical starting figures; quotes vary. Stamp Duty is worked out for England or Northern Ireland.

What if?

Compare a different price, deposit or rate

What-if price

What-if deposit (%)

What-if rate

Change the price, deposit or rate to compare with the house above.

Illustrative comparison — not a mortgage assessment.

Comparing homes you’ve viewed? The Viewing Pack keeps notes, scores and documents for each one.

Your next step

Illustrative example — not a mortgage assessment. Speak to a mortgage adviser before you make an offer.

How the answer is worked out

The calculator runs two checks once you add your income, and shows the result as one of four answers:

Looks within reach: the mortgage is within about 4 times your income, and housing would take 40% of your take-home pay or less.
Close — check the details: the mortgage is between about 4 and 4.5 times your income, housing would take between 40% and 50% of your take-home pay, or your deposit is under 5%.
Stretched: housing would take more than half of your take-home pay.
Above typical borrowing: the mortgage is more than about 4.5 times your income.

Housing costs here are the mortgage repayment, council tax and household bills. The borrowing check assumes no other debts or commitments; if you have any, lenders will usually offer less.

If it looks stretched

A bigger deposit lowers both the mortgage and the monthly cost: the savings and deposit planner shows how long it would take to save more. A longer mortgage term lowers the monthly payment but means paying more interest overall. Or look at homes at a lower price and compare them here.

For the full picture of what you could borrow, use the affordability check; for different rates and terms, the mortgage calculator; and for every upfront cost line by line, the buying costs planner. Our guide to what salary you need to buy a house explains the income side in more detail.

Questions buyers ask

How do I know if I can afford a house?: Start with three numbers: the mortgage you'd need (the price minus your deposit), what the house would cost each month, and the cash you'd need upfront. Then compare them with your income. Many lenders lend around 4 to 4.5 times income, and it helps to keep housing costs well below half of your take-home pay. This page runs those checks for one house. It isn't a mortgage assessment.
What salary do I need to buy a £240,000 house?: With a 10% deposit (£24,000), you'd need to borrow £216,000. At the typical 4 to 4.5 times income, that points to a household income of roughly £48,000 to £54,000 a year before tax, assuming no other debts. A bigger deposit lowers it; loans, car finance or credit card balances raise it.
How much deposit do I need?: Most residential mortgages need a deposit of at least 5% of the price. A bigger deposit means a smaller mortgage, and often a lower rate, so the monthly payment falls too.
What do I need to pay on top of the deposit?: Property tax — Stamp Duty in England and Northern Ireland, LBTT in Scotland or Land Transaction Tax in Wales — plus solicitor fees, a survey and moving costs. The calculator works out the tax for the nation you choose, with first-time buyer relief where it applies, and adds typical estimates for the rest.
What if interest rates go up?: Your payment can change when a fixed-rate deal ends. The calculator also shows the repayment if rates rose by 2 percentage points, so you can see how much room you'd have. Lenders run their own affordability checks too.
Does 'Looks within reach' mean I'll get a mortgage?: No. It means the mortgage is within about 4 times your income and your housing costs would take no more than about 40% of your take-home pay. A lender also looks at your debts, spending, credit history and the property itself. A mortgage in principle, or a mortgage adviser, gives a firmer answer.
Is this financial advice?: No. It's an illustrative estimate for planning, using typical lending multiples, income tax and National Insurance, and the property tax rules for the nation you choose. Speak to a qualified mortgage adviser before you make an offer.

This calculator is for illustrative purposes only and is not financial or mortgage advice. It uses typical lending multiples and example bills; lenders make their own assessment of your income, debts, spending and credit history. Speak to a qualified mortgage adviser before you make an offer.

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How the answer is worked out

The calculator runs two checks once you add your income, and shows the result as one of four answers:

Looks within reach: the mortgage is within about 4 times your income, and housing would take 40% of your take-home pay or less.
Close — check the details: the mortgage is between about 4 and 4.5 times your income, housing would take between 40% and 50% of your take-home pay, or your deposit is under 5%.
Stretched: housing would take more than half of your take-home pay.
Above typical borrowing: the mortgage is more than about 4.5 times your income.

Housing costs here are the mortgage repayment, council tax and household bills. The borrowing check assumes no other debts or commitments; if you have any, lenders will usually offer less.

If it looks stretched

Questions buyers ask

How do I know if I can afford a house?

Start with three numbers: the mortgage you'd need (the price minus your deposit), what the house would cost each month, and the cash you'd need upfront. Then compare them with your income. Many lenders lend around 4 to 4.5 times income, and it helps to keep housing costs well below half of your take-home pay. This page runs those checks for one house. It isn't a mortgage assessment.

What salary do I need to buy a £240,000 house?

With a 10% deposit (£24,000), you'd need to borrow £216,000. At the typical 4 to 4.5 times income, that points to a household income of roughly £48,000 to £54,000 a year before tax, assuming no other debts. A bigger deposit lowers it; loans, car finance or credit card balances raise it.

How much deposit do I need?

Most residential mortgages need a deposit of at least 5% of the price. A bigger deposit means a smaller mortgage, and often a lower rate, so the monthly payment falls too.

What do I need to pay on top of the deposit?

Property tax — Stamp Duty in England and Northern Ireland, LBTT in Scotland or Land Transaction Tax in Wales — plus solicitor fees, a survey and moving costs. The calculator works out the tax for the nation you choose, with first-time buyer relief where it applies, and adds typical estimates for the rest.

What if interest rates go up?

Your payment can change when a fixed-rate deal ends. The calculator also shows the repayment if rates rose by 2 percentage points, so you can see how much room you'd have. Lenders run their own affordability checks too.

Does 'Looks within reach' mean I'll get a mortgage?

No. It means the mortgage is within about 4 times your income and your housing costs would take no more than about 40% of your take-home pay. A lender also looks at your debts, spending, credit history and the property itself. A mortgage in principle, or a mortgage adviser, gives a firmer answer.

Is this financial advice?

No. It's an illustrative estimate for planning, using typical lending multiples, income tax and National Insurance, and the property tax rules for the nation you choose. Speak to a qualified mortgage adviser before you make an offer.

Your answer

Add your income to see if it looks within reach

You'd need to borrow £216,000

About £1,510 a month to live there

About £26,600 in cash

Compare a different price, deposit or rate

Your next step

How the answer is worked out

If it looks stretched

Questions buyers ask

Your answer

Add your income to see if it looks within reach

You'd need to borrow £216,000

About £1,510 a month to live there

About £26,600 in cash

Compare a different price, deposit or rate

Your next step

How the answer is worked out

If it looks stretched

Questions buyers ask