Updated June 2026
UK Mortgage Affordability Index
As of June 2026, the most generous mainstream UK lender will lend about 33.6% more than the least generous to the same borrower. A £50,000 earner can borrow £224,500 or £300,000 — a £75,500 swing — based purely on which lender they approach, with no change to income, deposit or circumstances.
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Or see all our sourced figures in one place: UK Mortgage Affordability Statistics 2026 →
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average gap between the most and least generous lender on the same income
the typical income-multiple range across mainstream lenders
widest cash gap found, at the £70,000 income band
Maximum borrowing by income band (June 2026)
Each row shows the lowest, median and highest maximum loan offered by leading UK lenders to a single employed applicant on that income, over a 25-year term with no other debts — and the cash gap between the most and least generous.
| Income | Lowest | Median | Highest | Multiple range | Most generous | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 | £89,800 | £89,800 | £110,000 | 4.49×–5.5× | NatWest | £20,200 |
| £25,000 | £112,300 | £112,300 | £137,500 | 4.49×–5.5× | NatWest | £25,200 |
| £30,000 | £134,700 | £134,700 | £165,000 | 4.49×–5.5× | Leeds BS | £30,300 |
| £35,000 | £157,200 | £157,200 | £192,500 | 4.49×–5.5× | Leeds BS | £35,300 |
| £40,000 | £179,600 | £179,600 | £240,000 | 4.49×–6× | Cumberland BS | £60,400 |
| £45,000 | £202,100 | £202,100 | £270,000 | 4.49×–6× | Cumberland BS | £67,900 |
| £50,000 | £224,500 | £250,000 | £300,000 | 4.49×–6× | Cumberland BS | £75,500 |
| £55,000 | £247,000 | £275,000 | £330,000 | 4.49×–6× | Cumberland BS | £83,000 |
| £60,000 | £269,400 | £330,000 | £360,000 | 4.49×–6× | Aldermore | £90,600 |
| £65,000 | £291,900 | £357,500 | £390,000 | 4.49×–6× | Aldermore | £98,100 |
| £70,000 | £314,300 | £385,000 | £420,000 | 4.49×–6× | Aldermore | £105,700 |
| £75,000 | £375,000 | £412,500 | £450,000 | 5×–6× | Aldermore | £75,000 |
| £80,000 | £400,000 | £440,000 | £480,000 | 5×–6× | Aldermore | £80,000 |
| £90,000 | £450,000 | £495,000 | £540,000 | 5×–6× | Aldermore | £90,000 |
| £100,000 | £550,000 | £550,000 | £650,000 | 5.5×–6.5× | HSBC Premier | £100,000 |
Figures are each lender's published affordability / income-multiple position as of June 2026, sampled across 15 leading lenders per income band. Indicative only and subject to each lender's full criteria and credit assessment.
Why the same income produces such different offers
The single biggest driver is the income multiple. Mainstream lenders cluster around 4.49× income, but a handful stretch much further:
- HSBC Premier6.5×
- Nationwide (Helping Hand)6.0×
- Barclays6.0×
- NatWest (higher income)6.0×
- Aldermore6.0×
- Cumberland BS6.0×
Beyond the headline multiple, lenders differ on how they treat overtime, bonus and commission, self-employed and contractor income, and existing credit commitments — which is why a 58-lender comparison can be worth tens of thousands in borrowing power. See how much you could borrow across 58 lenders.
Methodology
- Source: each lender's published income-multiple (loan-to-income) ceiling from their intermediary lending criteria, as of June 2026 — reflecting the 2025 relaxation of the regulatory limit on high-LTI lending.
- Scenario: single employed applicant, 25-year repayment term, no dependants and no additional debts. A representative sample of leading high-street and specialist lenders is taken at each income band.
- Figures: "lowest", "median" and "highest" are the smallest, middle and largest maximum loan across the sampled lenders for that income. The gap is the cash difference between highest and lowest.
- Updated: refreshed monthly as lender criteria and rates change.
This page is information only and does not constitute mortgage advice or a recommendation. Borrowing figures are indicative, vary by individual circumstances, and are subject to each lender's full lending criteria, affordability assessment and credit checks. Always confirm current figures with the lender or a qualified mortgage adviser before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
How much more will the most generous UK lender lend than the least generous?
As of June 2026, the gap between the most and least generous mainstream UK lender averages about 26.9% across income bands, and reaches 33.6% at a £50,000 income — where a borrower can get £224,500 or £300,000, a £75,500 difference — based purely on lender choice, with no change to their income, deposit or circumstances.
What income multiple do UK mortgage lenders use?
Most mainstream UK lenders cap lending at around 4.49× income, but the most generous reach 6× — and selected high-earner, professional or long-fix ranges go to 6.5×–7× for qualifying borrowers (for example HSBC Premier at 6.5×, and April Mortgages and Teachers' Building Society at 7×). The multiple a lender applies, and how it treats overtime, bonus and self-employed income, drives most of the difference in maximum borrowing.
See your own figure across 58 lenders
Run a free affordability check and see how much each UK lender would actually offer you — in about two minutes, with no credit search.
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