Affordability Calculator
Guidance only — subject to full referencing, Right to Rent checks and landlord approval.
Our affordability guidelines
- Minimum income: each tenant should earn at least 30× the monthly rent (gross annual income).
- Guarantor required: where a tenant earns 30× to less than 40×, or where the application is approved under the combined affordability route.
- No guarantor (typically): where all tenants earn 40× the monthly rent or more, subject to satisfactory referencing.
- Guarantor criteria: UK-based; must pass referencing and demonstrate 35× rent if a UK homeowner, or 45× rent if not a homeowner.
- Permitted Occupier option: a person who does not meet affordability may be added as a Permitted Occupier (not a tenant) with landlord approval. Permitted Occupiers are not included in the affordability calculation.
- Combined affordability consideration: where two or more tenants do not meet the above income thresholds individually but demonstrate a combined gross annual income of at least 35× the monthly rent, the application will show as guarantor required and remains subject to full referencing and landlord approval.
Why we assess affordability per tenant
With the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act and the move to periodic tenancies, any joint tenant may give notice to end a tenancy. When valid notice is served, the tenancy ends for all tenants on the specified date, and no contract continues unless a new tenancy is granted. For this reason, Prime Choice assesses affordability on an individual tenant basis to ensure that each contractual tenant can independently sustain the rent. This approach is designed to promote tenancy stability and reduce the risk of arrears for both tenants and landlords.