How Much Can a Couple Borrow on a £70000 Income?

If you’re applying for a mortgage together and earning a combined income of £70000, you may be wondering what price range is realistic and how lenders decide what you can borrow. While income is important, it is only one part of a wider affordability assessment.

This guide explains how much a couple can borrow on a £70000 income, how lenders calculate borrowing limits, and what factors commonly increase or reduce the final figure.

How much can a couple borrow on a £70000 income?

Most lenders start with an income multiple before running full affordability checks. For joint applicants, this is typically around 4 to 4.5 times combined income.

On a £70000 household income, this often means:

• Around £280000 at 4x income
• Around £315000 at 4.5x income
• In stronger cases, up to £350000 with certain lenders

These figures are estimates, not guarantees. The final amount depends on your outgoings, credit history, and overall financial profile.

How lenders calculate joint mortgage affordability

Modern mortgage decisions rely heavily on affordability models rather than income alone. Lenders want to see that repayments remain affordable even if rates increase or circumstances change.

They will usually assess:

• Net monthly income for both applicants
• Household spending and committed outgoings
• Existing credit agreements
• Financial resilience under stress testing

We cover this in more detail in our guide explaining how lenders assess affordability.

Why two couples on the same income can borrow different amounts

Two couples earning £70000 may receive very different borrowing limits. This is because lenders look beyond income to understand risk.

Differences often come from:

• Credit history differences between applicants
• Levels of unsecured debt
• Childcare or maintenance costs
• Variations in job stability or income type

Even relatively small monthly commitments can significantly reduce how much a couple can borrow on a £70000 income.

How credit history affects joint borrowing

Both applicants’ credit files are assessed in full. A strong credit profile on one applicant does not cancel out adverse credit on the other.

Lenders will consider:

• Missed payments or defaults
• CCJs or historic insolvency
• Overall credit utilisation and repayment behaviour

Where adverse credit is present, borrowing may reduce or lender choice may narrow. This is explored further in our guide on mortgages with bad credit.

Does deposit size change how much you can borrow?

Deposit size does not directly increase income multiples, but it plays an important supporting role.

A larger deposit can:

• Improve lender choice
• Reduce monthly repayments
• Improve affordability calculations

For example, a couple earning £70000 with a 20% deposit may access more flexible lending than the same couple with a 5% deposit.

Can a couple borrow more than 4.5 times income?

In some cases, yes.

Higher income multiples are more likely where:

• Both applicants have strong, clean credit histories
• Outgoings are low compared to income
• Income is stable and predictable
• The mortgage term is longer

Higher multiples are less common where income is variable or credit issues are present. We discuss borrowing limits in more depth in our guide to joint mortgage borrowing.

How existing debts reduce borrowing

Committed outgoings are one of the biggest factors affecting borrowing power.

These may include:

• Car finance and personal loans
• Credit cards and overdrafts
• Student loan deductions
• Childcare and maintenance payments

Lenders assume these commitments will continue long term, which reduces disposable income and therefore limits borrowing.

Example borrowing scenarios on a £70000 income

Example one:

• £70000 joint income
• No unsecured debt
• Clean credit
• 15% deposit

Estimated borrowing: £315000 to £350000

Example two:

• £70000 joint income
• Car finance and credit cards
• One applicant with historic missed payments
• 10% deposit

Estimated borrowing: £280000 to £300000

These examples show how affordability, not just income, determines outcomes.

What if one or both applicants are self-employed?

Self-employed couples can still borrow on a £70000 income, but how income is evidenced matters.

Most lenders require:

• Two years of accounts or tax calculations
• Stable or improving income
• Clear documentation

Some lenders average income, while others use the lower year. This can affect borrowing where income fluctuates. We explain this further in our guide to complex income mortgages.

How mortgage term influences borrowing power

A longer mortgage term lowers monthly repayments, which can improve affordability.

This may:

• Increase the maximum borrowing available
• Reduce the impact of lender stress testing

However, age limits apply, and longer terms increase total interest paid over time.

What to prepare before applying

Before applying, it can help to:

• Check both credit reports
• Reduce unsecured debts where possible
• Avoid taking new credit
• Organise income and bank statements

We explain how statements are assessed in our guide on what lenders look for on bank statements.

Final thoughts

A combined income of £70000 can support a wide range of borrowing outcomes, but there is no single guaranteed figure. Lenders assess the full financial picture, including credit, outgoings, deposit size, and income stability.

You can learn more about how lenders approach joint applications in our other Mortgage Bridge guides. If you want personalised advice, speaking to a regulated mortgage adviser may help clarify next steps.

This guide provides general information only. Personalised mortgage advice should always come from a regulated mortgage adviser.