Rent Affordability Calculator

Use this calculator to determine the annual income required to afford a specific monthly rent, or to find out how much rent you can afford based on your annual income. It also helps you calculate the necessary income for a guarantor, if one is needed. Do you want to base the calculation on your income or the monthly rent?

You need an income of £0.00 per year If a guarantor is required, they'll need an income of £0.00 per year

You can afford rent of £0.00 per month If a guarantor is required then they will also need to have a total income of £0.00 per year

Rent affordability table

Understanding what you can afford when renting is a crucial first step. Based on your annual income, you can easily calculate the maximum monthly rent that fits your budget.

Below table shows the monthly rent and the annual income expected based on the 30% rent-to-income rule, as well as the guarantor’s annual income requirement if one is needed.

Monthly Rent	Annual Income (30x)	Guarantor (36x)
£300	£9,000	£10,800
£400	£12,000	£14,400
£500	£15,000	£18,000
£600	£18,000	£21,600
£700	£21,000	£25,200
£800	£24,000	£28,800
£900	£27,000	£32,400
£1,000	£30,000	£36,000
£1,100	£33,000	£39,600
£1,200	£36,000	£43,200

How is Rent Affordability Calculated?

The general rule of thumb is that your annual income should be at least 30 times the monthly rent.

Annual Income ≥ Monthly Rent × 30

If your rent is £500/month, you should earn at least:
£500 × 30 = £15,000 per year

Alternatively, you can multiply the yearly rent by 2.5 times for a quicker calculation. For example, if the monthly rent is £500, you’ll need an annual income of £15,000 to comfortably afford it.

Monthly Income ≥ Monthly Rent × 2.5

If rent is £500/month, your monthly income should be:
£500 × 2.5 = £1,250/month
➡️ Which equals £15,000/year

Our calculator streamlines this process by instantly applying these guidelines to your income. It also considers guarantor requirements, ensuring you’re prepared for tenancy applications.

It also considers guarantor thresholds, which are often 36 times the monthly rent annually if your income doesn’t meet the standard tenant requirement.

Monthly Rent: £900

Required Tenant Income (×30):
£900 × 30 = £27,000/year

Required Guarantor Income (×36):
£900 × 36 = £32,400/year

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