# What is the mortgage stress test?

> Quick answer · Last updated 1 April 2026

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## In short

Lenders must check you could still afford repayments if rates rose. The Bank of England removed its mandatory 3% stress test in 2022, but lenders still apply their own.

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender must satisfy the FCA's 'affordability' rules — broadly, that you could still cover the payments if your circumstances changed.

Until August 2022, the Bank of England required lenders to test affordability against an interest rate 3 percentage points above the lender's standard variable rate. That specific rule was withdrawn, but most lenders still apply a stress rate of their own choosing — typically between 6% and 9%.

Affordability tests use your committed outgoings (other loans, credit cards, childcare costs), not just your salary. Reducing other debts before applying often raises the amount you can borrow significantly.

## Related

- [Mortgages guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/)
- [Mortgage calculator](https://moneyguide.org.uk/tools/mortgage-repayment-calculator/)

## Primary source

gov.uk/buying-a-home/preparing-to-buy

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.