Can you avoid using your RSU income by leaning on the new higher mortgage income multiples?

Can You Avoid Using RSU Income by Leaning on the New High Mortgage Income Multiples?

Yes — in many cases you can.

Trinity Financial's brokers regularly see situations where:

• A borrower doesn’t need to use RSU income at all because a lender is willing to offer a mortgage based solely on PAYE salary and other standard earnings, using a higher income multiple like  NatWest's 6 times salary or HSBC's 6.5 times salary income multiple.
• In one Trinity case, a large high-street bank offered a mortgage based on salary (without RSUs) at a more competitive interest rate than lenders that would have factored in RSU income — and this resulted in a cleaner application and better pricing.

If your salary plus bonus and other earnings alone are high enough relative to the property's price, you may not have to rely on RSU income. Trinity Financial will assess both with and without RSU income to find the best route to get the best rates and the mortgage loan size you need.

How Lenders Typically Assess RSU Income

Mortgage lenders that do accept RSUs treat them as part of affordability, but with certain conditions:

What lenders will consider

• Only vested RSUs typically count — unvested future grants usually do not.
• Lenders usually require documentation showing a history of RSU vesting (often 1–2+ years) and evidence of actual sale proceeds or cash received from those vestings.

How much RSU income counts

• Some lenders may accept 50% of RSUs as income; others may use a higher percentage if you have a strong track record of regular vesting.
• The precise percentage and how underwriters treat this varies widely between lenders and often requires manual underwriting.

Common lender types for RSU income mortgages

• Private banks and niche lenders are more likely to accept RSU income. 
• Mainstream high-street lenders generally don’t advertise RSU acceptance and often won’t consider it at all unless it’s clearly documented.

Are Mortgage Lenders Offering More Generous Income Multiples?

Yes — many lenders have increased the multiples they’re willing to offer, which means you might be able to borrow enough without needing to count RSU income. Trinity’s research shows the following trends:

Standard and Stretch Income Multiples

• Many lenders still use a starting point of around 4×–6.5× salary for mortgage affordability.
• However, specialist lenders and high earners can access 5×, 5.5×, or even 6× income multiples, especially when borrowers earn above certain thresholds (e.g., £75,000+).

Examples of shifts in lending

• Lenders like TSB have publicly increased income multiples to 5.5× salary for eligible buyers in certain scenarios.
• HSBC and others now offer up to 6–6.5× income multiples for certain customers, particularly those with premier accounts or high incomes.

Why income multiples have risen

Many lenders have loosened their affordability rules and expanded higher income multiples in response to:

• Regulatory guidance making it easier for high-income borrowers to qualify for larger loans
• Market competition for mortgages for high-earning professionals and larger loan sizes

What This Means for You

If your salary is high enough

You might not need to rely on RSU income at all — especially with lenders offering 6× income multiples in some cases — which can result in:

• A simpler underwriting process
• A better interest rate
• A stronger application overall

If your salary alone isn’t enough

Then:

• A specialist RSU income mortgage could be the key — but it’s usually only available through bespoke or private banks, not standard high-street branches.

If you have a mix of salary + RSUs + bonuses

A Trinity broker can model different scenarios to determine:

• Which lenders will take RSU income into account
• How much of your RSU income will be accepted
• Whether a higher multiple or standard salary route is stronger

Next Steps (Trinity Financial's Approach)

1. Speak to a specialist broker (like Trinity) who understands RSU income and lender attitudes to it.
2. Provide documentation (vestings, payslips, RSU schedules).
3. Ask for multiple scenarios — with and without RSU income — so you know which gives the best mortgage outcome.
4. Target lenders tailored to your profile for the most favourable income multiples.

Lending solutions with Trinity Financial

Are you looking to buy a property and require expert advice? We’re here to help you find a solution – no matter how complex your circumstances. Our expert brokers have extensive experience providing creative solutions to secure mortgages for our clients.

Call Trinity Financial on 020 7016 0790 to secure a mortgage or book a consultation

The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.

Your mortgage is secured on your property. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage