Help to Buy Valuation in RG25

A Help to Buy valuation is a RICS Red Book valuation needed when you want to redeem your equity loan, remortgage, or sell a home bought through the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme. Unlike a standard mortgage valuation, it has to be completed by a RICS-registered valuer who holds MRICS or FRICS designation and is a RICS Registered Valuer. The report must be addressed to Homes England and stays valid for three months from the date of inspection. In our assessment, we include at least three comparable properties within approximately 2 miles of your RG25 property.

In RG25, Help to Buy valuations usually sit somewhere between £195 and £450, depending on property value and type. Flats and smaller terraced homes sit towards the lower end, while larger detached houses with more involved requirements can cost more, with some firms charging up to £850 for high-value properties. We keep pricing transparent and free from hidden fees, and the fee reflects the amount of analysis and research needed for your property type in the local RG25 market. In the South East, where values are higher, valuation costs tend to sit near the upper end of the national range.

If the current market value of your property is below the original purchase price, you may be in negative equity. Even so, the government guarantee means you will not owe more than the property is worth when you redeem the equity loan. That protection matters to homeowners in RG25, especially as flat values have fallen by 1% over the last 12 months while other property types have seen modest growth. Our valuers will give you a detailed breakdown of how the figure was reached, including the comparable sales evidence used, and we can talk through your options in light of your circumstances.

Yes, when you sell a Help to Buy property, the equity loan has to be repaid from the sale proceeds. Because the repayment is based on current market value rather than the original purchase price, an up-to-date RICS valuation is needed to work out what you will owe to Homes England. That is especially relevant in RG25, where property values have risen by 2% overall in the last 12 months, so you may benefit from capital growth when redeeming the loan. As part of conveyancing, your solicitor will usually ask for a copy of the valuation report.

From the date of inspection, your Help to Buy valuation is valid for three months. If the transaction has not completed by then, you will need either a desktop valuation extension, usually possible within the first month after expiry, or a new full valuation. We suggest starting the process well ahead of any deadline so there is no need to rush decisions. The desktop extension route may be available if it is submitted within two weeks of the original valuation expiring, but that is not guaranteed and depends on Homes England accepting it.

No, a standard mortgage valuation will not do for Help to Buy. You need a RICS Red Book valuation that meets Homes England requirements, including being addressed to them and containing comparable sales evidence from a RICS Registered Valuer. Mortgage valuations are normally carried out for the lender’s benefit and do not satisfy the strict rules Homes England sets for equity loan redemption. Using one for redemption could slow things down or lead to rejection by Homes England.

Several local factors can move a valuation in RG25. Homes near the River Loddon in Old Basing and Sherfield-on-Loddon may carry extra flood risk considerations that affect insurability and value. The underlying clay-with-flints geology brings a moderate to high shrink-swell risk, so properties may be prone to subsidence or heave, particularly older homes with shallower foundations. Conservation area restrictions in Old Basing and Sherfield-on-Loddon can also limit the alterations you can make to a property. Our valuers take all of this into account when assessing market value.

The inspection itself usually takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the size and complexity of the property. After that, we prepare and deliver your RICS Red Book valuation report within 3-5 working days. For most Help to Buy redemption or remortgage transactions in RG25, that timeframe is enough. If you need a quicker turnaround, we can offer an expedited service for an additional fee, which can get the report to you within 2-3 working days.