laenukoormust

Laenukoormus is a financial indicator that expresses the share of a borrower's income that must be allocated to servicing debt payments on outstanding loans. It is used to assess the sustainability of debt and the borrower’s ability to meet regular obligations, both for individuals and households.

The calculation is typically presented as a debt service ratio (DSR) or loan payment-to-income ratio. The numerator is the total monthly debt payments, including principal and interest on all loans (and, in some definitions, other regularly recurring credit commitments). The denominator is the borrower’s regular net income or disposable income. Different lenders or jurisdictions may use gross income or include different types of payments, so the exact method can vary.

Laenukoormus is important for lenders and policymakers because it reflects financial vulnerability and default risk. A higher loan burden reduces the capacity to absorb income shocks and can indicate over-indebtedness. Banks often apply maximum laenukoormus thresholds when evaluating loan applications and may adjust loan size, interest rate, or require additional collateral based on the result. On a macro level, affordability limits and prudential measures may rely on debt service indicators to monitor household indebtedness and financial stability.

An illustrative example: if monthly debt payments total 600 euros and net monthly income is 2,000 euros, laenukoormus is 30% (600/2000). Thresholds vary by country and lender, and calculation methods differ, so laenukoormus is one of several tools used to gauge credit risk. Related concepts include debt-to-income ratio and other debt service measures.