From our Head of Business Development

A Guide to RICS Valuations for Help to Buy Homeowners
If you’re considering selling a house you bought through the Help to Buy equity loan scheme or repaying your loan, you may have come across the term “Help to Buy valuation.” But what exactly is it, and why is it essential?
In this guide, we look at why a Help to Buy valuation is needed, what to expect once you when appointing a surveyor, and other common questions about the valuation process.
What is a Help to Buy scheme?
Help to Buy is a shared equity scheme which was introduced by the UK Government, where first-time buyers could borrow up to 20% (40% if you lived in London) of the cost of a new build house, interest free for five years. This scheme ended in March 2023. Although the Government has not announced any plans to replace Help to Buy Equity loan scheme, there are plenty of private alternatives including no deposit mortgages and shared ownership schemes.
When is a Help to Buy valuation needed?
A Help to Buy valuation is an assessment of your property’s current market value, carried out by a surveyor registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
This type of valuation is specifically required if you have a Help to Buy equity loan and are looking to:
- Sell your property.
- Repay your equity loan.
- Remortgage your home.
- Staircasing (buy more share of your home).
- Exercise your right to buy.
The valuation ensures that the amount you repay accurately reflects your home’s current market value. This is because the equity loan is based on a percentage of your property’s value, not a fixed amount. For example, if you received a 20% equity loan when purchasing your property, you’ll need to repay 20% of its current market value when settling the loan.
Are there criteria that must be met?
It is essential to hire a RICS regulated independent chartered valuer to carry out the valuation:
- The chartered valuer must be registered with RICS and be independent to an estate agent.
- They cannot be related to you.
- The chartered valuer must provide at least 3 comparable properties and sale prices.
- Those properties must be like-for-like, with regards to property type, size, and age, and must be within a 2-mile radius of your own property.
- Valuations carried out for bank or mortgage purposes will not be accepted.
- The chartered valuer must inspect the property interior and provide a full valuation report – not a survey.
The valuation report needs to be presented on headed paper, signed by a RICS surveyor, dated, and addressed to the appropriate association. At Watsons, we meet all the above criteria and carry out regular Help to Buy valuations at an affordable price.
How Long Does a Help to Buy Valuation Take?
The process for obtaining a Help to Buy valuation is relatively straightforward but requires some preparation as the homeowner. Typically, a Help to Buy valuation includes the following steps:
- Booking the Valuation: Contact our team to obtain your free quote or book your valuation. We will appoint a local surveyor that is experienced in Help to Buy assessments when arranging this with you.
- Surveyor Visit: One of our local surveyors will visit your property to conduct a detailed inspection.
- Valuation Report: After the visit, the surveyor will compile a detailed report, outlining your property’s market value.
In total, you can expect the entire process to take around 2 weeks from booking the valuation to receiving your report. However, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead, especially if you’re working towards a specific deadline for selling, remortgaging, or repaying your loan. These timelines can also vary in busier periods, so we recommend discussing deadlines with your surveyor when booking a valuation.
How much is a RICS Help to Buy valuation?
The cost of a valuation can vary depending on several factors, including:
- The size of your property.
- The location of your property.
- Additional services you may require.
At Watsons, we pride ourselves on offering competitive pricing and transparent quotes for all our valuation services. A valuation is a small investment that is a necessary step to ensure compliance with the requirements set by the Help to Buy scheme.
Terms and Conditions for Watsons Leaseholder Discount Offer
1. Eligibility:
a. The £50 discount is exclusively available to current Watsons leaseholders.
b. Proof of leasehold status with Watsons may be required to qualify for the discount.
2. Offer Period:
a. The offer is valid for bookings made between [1st Jan 2025] and [30th June 2025].
b. Watsons reserves the right to modify or terminate this offer at any time without prior notice.
3. Booking Requirements:
a. The offer applies only to valuation services conducted by Watsons’ RICS Chartered Surveyors.
b. Booking must be completed through the official Watsons channels (e.g., website, phone, or office).
4. Discount Application:
a. The £50 discount will be applied to the total valuation service fee at the time of payment.
b. This discount cannot be combined with any other promotions, offers, or discounts.
5. Cancellations:
a. Cancellations made after confirmation of service may be subject to a fee, as per Watsons’ cancellation policy.
b. Rescheduling within the offer period will retain the discount if eligibility conditions are met.
6. Limitation of Liability:
a. Watsons is not responsible for any delays or unforeseen circumstances that may affect the scheduling of valuation services.
7. General:
a. This offer is subject to availability and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
b. Watsons reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.
8. Contact Information:
a. For questions or support regarding this offer, please contact Watsons on 0333 220 1234 or email surveys@watsons-property.co.uk.

Contact Our Team
You can rely on Watsons to support your Help to Buy journey with award-winning excellence. For more information about our valuation and survey services, contact us today:
Customer Service Team
18 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0TA
t: 0333 220 1234
e: survey@watsons-property.co.uk
