Rent affordability calculator
Find out whether your income is likely to pass a letting agent’s affordability check, and the most rent you could apply for.
Most rent at this income
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Enter your income.
- Last checked 25 October 2026
- Expert review pending
- How we calculate
How this is calculated
The most rent you can apply for is your gross annual income divided by the agent’s multiple. To pass, the monthly rent must be at or below that figure. A guarantor is usually checked at 36 times the monthly rent.
These multiples are industry practice, not law. Agents and referencing firms set their own, so ask which one they use before you pay a holding deposit.
Worked example
Two sharers on £34,000 between them
£34,000 ÷ 30 = £1,133.33 a month. A flat at £1,050 passes. A guarantor for that flat would need to earn £1,050 × 36 = £37,800. If take-home pay is £2,250 a month, the rent is 47% of it, which leaves little room for bills.
Questions people ask
How much rent can I afford on my salary?
Most letting agents and referencing firms want your gross annual income to be at least 30 times the monthly rent. On £30,000 a year that is a rent of up to £1,000 a month. Some use 2.5 times the annual rent instead, which works out the same. Joint tenants can usually add their incomes together.
What if I don’t earn enough?
The usual options are a guarantor, who will often need to earn 36 times the monthly rent, or offering rent in advance. In England, the Renters’ Rights Act limits how much rent a landlord can ask for in advance, so check the current rules before offering it.
Does the check use my take-home pay?
Referencing usually uses gross income before tax. That can flatter what you can really afford, so the calculator also shows the rent as a share of your take-home pay if you enter it.
Do benefits count as income?
Many referencing firms count Universal Credit housing costs and other regular benefits. Policies vary, and refusing someone because they receive benefits can be unlawful discrimination, so ask the agent how they assess it.