Can I afford to stay in my home?

Most people want to stay in their own home for as long as they can. The honest question is whether the income lasts as well as the wish. This tool sets your monthly income against the real cost of running the place, then lets you push inflation up with a slider to see whether it still holds in a few years time. It is built to give you a straight answer, including the answer that staying put may not be affordable, in which case equity release or downsizing might be what keeps you in a home you can manage.

Your monthly income, after tax (£)

Energy and water per month (£)

Council tax per month (£)

Maintenance and repairs per month (£)

All other living costs per month (£)

Stress test: costs rise by 5% a year, for 5 years

Look ahead this many years

Your monthly position now and after the stress test

Item	Today	In 5 years

Copy this data as text

Assumptions: the stress test grows your monthly costs by the inflation rate you set, every year, for the number of years you choose, while holding your income flat. Most pensions rise over time too, so the future shortfall shown here is deliberately a cautious, harder picture rather than a forecast. Maintenance on an older home is lumpy, a new roof or boiler does not arrive monthly, so treat the maintenance line as a long run average and keep a separate reserve. This is a guide to start a conversation, not advice on your own finances.