The Help to Buy equity loan scheme — which ran until March 2023 for new applications — helped thousands of people in Barking and East London onto the property ladder. With Homes England lending up to 20% (or 40% in London) towards new-build properties, it made ownership accessible for many who wouldn't otherwise have managed the full deposit.
But now, many of those buyers are approaching the point where they need to think about repaying or staircasing their equity loan. And that's where a RICS-certified Help to Buy valuation becomes essential.
When Do You Need a Help to Buy Valuation?
You'll need a formal RICS valuation if you're:
- Repaying your equity loan — either with your own savings, remortgaging, or as part of selling the property
- Staircasing — buying a larger percentage of your property (not standard for Help to Buy, but relevant for shared ownership)
- Selling your Help to Buy property — the equity loan is repaid from the proceeds of the sale, but Homes England requires the valuation to confirm the market value
What Are the Requirements for a Help to Buy Valuation?
Homes England has specific requirements. The valuation must:
- Be carried out by a RICS-registered valuer (not just any surveyor)
- Be completed using the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (Red Book) methodology
- Be current — typically valid for no more than 3 months from the date of the report
- Use comparable sales evidence to arrive at the open market value
- Be completed on the RICS 1-page valuation certificate format that Homes England requires
We are RICS-registered valuers authorised to carry out Help to Buy valuations. We're familiar with the exact format and requirements Homes England expects, and we work quickly so your application isn't delayed.
How Is the Valuation Calculated?
The valuation is based on comparable sales evidence — recent sales of similar properties in your area. For Barking Riverside properties, this typically means looking at other flats or houses in the same development, adjusted for floor level, aspect, and any differences in specification.
The figure arrived at becomes the "open market value" used to calculate how much you owe on your equity loan. For example, if you originally bought a £300,000 flat with a 20% London Help to Buy equity loan (£60,000), and the flat is now valued at £380,000, the equity loan has grown proportionally — you'd now owe approximately £76,000 (20% of £380,000).
Understanding this before you redeem — and getting the valuation right — is very important.
Why It Matters to Get the Valuation Right
Unlike a condition survey, a Help to Buy valuation directly affects how much money you pay back. An overestimate means you repay more than necessary. An underestimate could be challenged by Homes England and cause delays.
Our valuers have an in-depth knowledge of the Barking property market, including Barking Riverside — where the majority of our Help to Buy valuation instructions come from. We use the most relevant and reliable comparable sales evidence, and we produce reports that are accepted by Homes England first time, without queries.
How Much Does a Help to Buy Valuation Cost?
Our Help to Buy valuations for properties in Barking and East London start from £250 for a standard one- or two-bedroom flat. We'll confirm the exact price when you contact us. The inspection is typically brief (30–60 minutes), and the report is usually ready within 3–5 working days.
How to Book
Simply contact us with the address of the property and confirmation that it's a Help to Buy valuation. We'll confirm our availability, agree the fee, and arrange a convenient time for the inspection. We aim to have reports ready well within the 3-month validity window, giving you time to act on the findings.
Book Your Help to Buy Valuation in Barking
RICS-certified, fast turnaround, accepted by Homes England first time.
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