Help to Buy Valuation – RICS Valuers for Essex & London
If you need to repay, remortgage or staircase your Help to Buy equity loan, Homes England/Help to Buy requires an independent RICS Red Book valuation of your home — and Gibsons Surveyors provides exactly that. We are an RICS-regulated firm of Chartered Surveyors and Registered Valuers covering Essex, London and the Home Counties, and we turn most Help to Buy valuation reports around in 2-3 working days, in the format Homes England/Help to Buy and their administrator require.
Request a quote today or call 0203 963 3777 (London) / 01268 949 100 (Essex).
Why you need a Help to Buy valuation now
The Help to Buy equity loan was interest-free for the first five years. From the start of year six you begin paying interest on the loan, and that interest rises every year. Many people who bought during 2020-2021 are reaching that point now — which is why so many homeowners are choosing to repay the loan in full, move it onto their mortgage, or staircase part of it before the interest mounts up.
Whichever route you take, the amount you repay is based on your property’s current market value, not the price you originally paid. That value has to be established by an independent RICS valuation — Homes England/Help to Buy will not process your repayment without one.
When a RICS valuation is required
You will need a Help to Buy valuation if you are:
- Redeeming (repaying) the equity loan in full — whether by remortgaging or from savings.
- Staircasing — making a part repayment to reduce the percentage you owe (the minimum voluntary repayment is usually 10% of the current value).
- Remortgaging to a new lender or product where the equity loan is being repaid or restructured.
- Selling your home — the loan is repaid as a percentage of the sale price or valuation, whichever is appropriate.
What Homes England/Help to Buy requires from the valuation
A Help to Buy valuation isn’t an estate agent’s appraisal — it has to meet specific criteria set by Homes England/Help to Buy (administered by Target). We make sure every report we produce complies, including:
- Carried out by an independent RICS Registered Valuer (MRICS or FRICS).
- Prepared on headed paper, signed, and addressed to Homes England/Help to Buy.
- Supported by three comparable sales that are genuinely like-for-like — similar type, size and age — typically within a two-mile radius of your property and completed within the last 12 months.
- Valid for three months from the date of inspection. If it lapses before your sale or repayment completes, a desktop valuation can usually extend it for a further three months; if that period also passes, a full re-inspection is required.
Because we know these rules, we get them right first time — avoiding the delays and rejections that come from a non-compliant report.
Why choose Gibsons Surveyors
We are independent and RICS-regulated, with our Help to Buy valuations carried out by an RICS Registered Valuer (MRICS or FRICS), and offices in London and Essex and over 30 years of combined property experience across the area. We work quickly and communicate clearly — as one client put it:
“Excellent experience with Gibsons Surveyors. I required a RICS valuation for repaying my Help to Buy loan and they handled everything professionally from start to finish. Clear communication, fast turnaround and a very fair price.”
Cameron Curle, Basildon
Our fees for Help to Buy valuations are fixed and quoted up front, with no surprises. Get in touch with your property details and we’ll confirm the fee and the soonest available inspection.
How it works
- Get a quote — send us your address and a few details; we confirm the fee and timescale.
- Inspection — we inspect the property and gather the comparable evidence Homes England/Help to Buy requires.
- Report — you receive a compliant, Homes England/Help to Buy-addressed RICS valuation, usually within 2-3 working days, ready to send to your lender, solicitor or the scheme administrator.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a RICS valuation to repay my Help to Buy loan?
Yes. Homes England/Help to Buy requires an independent valuation by an RICS-qualified valuer to calculate how much you must repay. An estate agent’s market appraisal will not be accepted.
How long is a Help to Buy valuation valid for?
Three months from the date of inspection. If your remortgage, redemption or sale hasn’t completed in that time, a desktop valuation can usually extend it for a further three months. If that second period also lapses, a full re-inspection of the property will be needed.
How much does a Help to Buy valuation cost?
Our fees are fixed and quoted before you commit — contact us with your property details for a precise figure.
How quickly can you turn the report around?
We aim to provide most Help to Buy valuation reports within 2-3 working days of the inspection.
Do you cover my area?
We cover Essex, London and the Home Counties from our London and Essex offices, including the areas we cover. If you’re unsure, just ask.
Get your Help to Buy valuation
Whether you’re remortgaging, redeeming or staircasing, Gibsons Surveyors can provide the compliant RICS valuation you need across Essex and London — quickly and at a fixed fee. See our valuations services or request a quote today.