Mortgage Affordability
Affordability Myth #3: “You can always borrow 4.5x your income”
2 minute read
Rana Miah | June 18, 2025 Share
You might’ve heard this one floating around – that lenders will give you a mortgage worth 4.5 times your salary, no matter what you earn. We see this one on Reddit a lot!
It sounds simple enough. But in reality? It’s not quite that straightforward.
Why this one’s misleading
Yes, 4.5 times your income can be a rough guide, but it’s not a guaranteed offer. Especially if your income is at the lower end, lenders will take a much closer look at the full picture before deciding how much you can actually borrow.
Here’s what’s really happening
Lenders don’t just do a quick calculation based on your salary. They’ll also look at:
- Your monthly bills and living costs.
- Any debts you’re already paying (like loans or credit cards).
- How consistent and reliable your income is.
- Whether you’d realistically be able to manage the repayments comfortably.
Lenders have to be sure you’re not being stretched too far.
Aisha earns £26,000 a year. While 4.5 times her income is £117,000 after looking at her £400 monthly car loan payment and other living expenses, a mortgage advisor helped her understand that a more comfortable borrowing amount would be closer to £60,000 to ensure she could still manage her finances comfortably.
This means that she’s more likely to be able to borrow 2.3 times her income in this situation.
What to think about instead
Rather than locking in on that 4.5x number, ask yourself:
“What could I actually afford each month without feeling the pinch?”
Look at your current spending habits. Are you already juggling payments or just managing to save? Could you still live comfortably after covering a mortgage?
It’s not about how much you can borrow – it’s about what’s sensible and sustainable.
The bottom line?
Use that 4.5x figure as a loose guide, but don’t hang everything on it. Every lender looks at affordability differently, and what works for one person might not work for another.
If you want a clearer idea of what’s possible for you, try our free affordability calculator – and even better, speak to a mortgage advisor who can help you figure out what’s truly manageable.
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