Joint Mortgage Calculator

Lenders don't simply add two incomes together - they assess each applicant individually and apply an income multiplier based on employment type. The individual amounts are then combined for the joint lending figure.

Income multipliers by employment type

Example - mixed employment couple: Person 1 (PAYE, £40,000) contributes £180,000. Person 2 (self-employed, £35,000) contributes £140,000. Combined maximum loan: £320,000 - versus £337,500 if both were PAYE. The employment type difference costs £17,500 of borrowing power.

One partner earns significantly more

Even if one partner earns £60k and the other £20k, that lower income still adds £90,000+ to your combined borrowing. Always include both applicants, even if the income gap is large.

One partner is self-employed

Lenders require 2 years of accounts for self-employed applicants and will typically use the average (or lower) figure. If you're approaching 3 years of strong accounts, it can be worth waiting - the difference in multiplier (4.0x vs 4.5x) can mean tens of thousands of extra borrowing.

Maternity or paternity leave

Most lenders use your full contracted salary (not reduced statutory pay) if you're confirmed as returning to work. Some lenders require a return-to-work letter from your employer. Apply once you have confirmation of your return date.

Once you know your combined borrowing capacity, use the Mortgage Repayment Calculator to model the exact monthly payment for any loan amount, interest rate, or term length - including overpayment scenarios.

Applying on your own instead? Mortgage Borrowing Calculator calculates solo affordability using the same income-multiple approach, with lender stress testing built in.

If one partner has a poor credit history, read our guide on getting a mortgage as a couple with bad credit - specialist lenders and how to present your application.