How Much Can a Couple Borrow on a £60000 Income?

If you’re buying together and earning a combined income of £60000, one of the first questions is usually how much you can realistically borrow. The short answer is that most lenders base this on income multiples, affordability checks, and your wider financial position, not just salary alone.

This guide explains how much a couple can borrow on a £60000 income, how lenders calculate it, and what factors can push borrowing up or down.

How much can a couple borrow on a £60000 income?

Most lenders start with an income multiple. As a broad guide, joint applicants are often assessed at around 4 to 4.5 times combined income.

On a £60000 household income, that usually means:

• At 4x income: around £240000
• At 4.5x income: around £270000
• In stronger cases: up to £300000 with certain lenders

These figures are only starting points. The final amount depends on affordability checks, credit history, and existing commitments.

Why lenders don’t rely on income alone

While income multiples are useful for estimates, lenders now rely heavily on affordability models. This means they look at how much disposable income you have after regular spending.

They typically assess:

• Net monthly income for both applicants
• Household bills and living costs
• Existing credit commitments
• Future interest rate stress tests

We explain this in more detail in our guide on what lenders look for during affordability checks.

How joint applications are assessed

When two people apply together, lenders assess both incomes and both credit files.

This means:

• Strong credit on one applicant can help, but poor credit on the other can limit options
• Both applicants’ debts are included in affordability
• Stability of income for both people matters

Some couples find that one income is straightforward while the other is more complex. This is common where one person is self-employed or earns variable pay, which we cover in our guide to complex income mortgages.

What deposit size means for borrowing power

Your deposit does not usually increase the income multiple, but it can influence how flexible lenders are.

A larger deposit can:

• Improve access to higher income multiples
• Reduce monthly repayments
• Improve overall affordability

For example, a couple with a £60000 income and a 20% deposit may have more borrowing options than a couple with the same income and a 5% deposit.

How debts and outgoings affect borrowing

Existing commitments often have the biggest impact on how much a couple can borrow on a £60000 income.

This includes:

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

Even modest monthly commitments can reduce borrowing by tens of thousands. Lenders assume these payments will continue long term, so they are factored directly into affordability models.

Can a couple borrow more than 4.5 times income?

Yes, in some situations, higher income multiples are possible.

This usually applies where:

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

Higher multiples are less common where credit issues, variable income, or high living costs are present. We explore lender flexibility in more detail in our guide to borrowing limits.

How credit history affects joint borrowing

Both applicants’ credit files matter equally.

Lenders will look at:

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

If one applicant has adverse credit, the borrowing figure may reduce or lender choice may narrow. This doesn’t always mean a decline, but it can affect how much a couple can borrow on a £60000 income. We cover this in our guide on mortgages with bad credit.

Examples: borrowing on a £60000 income

Here are simplified examples to show how outcomes can vary.

Example one:

• £60000 joint income
• No debts
• Clean credit
• 15% deposit

Potential borrowing: £270000 to £300000

Example two:

• £60000 joint income
• Car finance and credit cards
• One applicant with historic missed payments
• 10% deposit

Potential borrowing: £230000 to £250000

These examples show why two couples with the same income can receive very different results.

Can self-employed couples borrow on a £60000 income?

Yes, but income evidence matters.

Lenders usually want:

• Two years of accounts or tax calculations
• Consistent or improving income
• Clear separation between personal and business finances

Some lenders will use the lower of two years, while others average income. This can affect how much a couple can borrow on a £60000 income if earnings fluctuate.

How mortgage term affects affordability

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

For joint applicants, extending the term can:

• Increase borrowing potential
• Reduce stress-test impact
• Improve affordability scores

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

What to do before applying

Before applying, it helps to:

• Review both credit reports
• Reduce unsecured debts where possible
• Avoid new credit commitments
• Gather income and bank statement evidence

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

Final thoughts

A £60000 joint income can support a wide range of borrowing outcomes, but the final figure depends on much more than salary alone. Deposit size, credit history, outgoings, and income stability all play a role.

You can learn more about how lenders assess 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.