What is an affordability check?

An affordability check is when a landlord or agent assesses whether you (and anyone else named on the tenancy) earn enough to comfortably afford the rent.

The common rule of thumb: your combined gross annual salary needs to be roughly 30 times the monthly rent. For example, on £900/month rent, that's around £27,000/year combined income across everyone named on the tenancy.

In a flatshare specifically: if you're all named on one joint tenancy, this calculation applies to your combined income, not each person individually - which can work in your favour if one flatmate earns more, or against you if the group's combined income is tight.

If you don't meet the threshold: a guarantor is the most common solution (see guarantor), particularly common for students, new renters, or those with variable/self-employed income.