By Andrew Lockwood, MRICS on the 30th of March 2026.

If you are selling or repaying your Help to Buy equity loan, a RICS-certified valuation is required to determine the current market value of your home. This is often abbreviated to a 'RICS valuation'.

In this article, we will cover what the Help To Buy scheme is, when and why the valuation is needed, how long is the valuation valid for, criteria set out by Homes England, exceptions and what happens during the inspection and following inspection.

We will also discuss the importance of instructing an experienced RICS Chartered Surveyor who is registered on the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme. As the loan is a percentage of your property's value (not a fixed amount), this valuation ensures you repay the correct amount. 


What is the Help To Buy scheme?

The Help to Buy scheme is a government program enabling first-time buyers to purchase new-build homes with a 5% deposit, using a government-backed equity loan of 20% (40% in London). This loan is interest-free for five years. 


When and why is a Help To Buy valuation needed?

A Help To Buy valuation is an assessment of your propertys current market value, as of the day of inspection, and is carried out by a surveyor who is registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). They may need to be fully chartered members, should have relevant experience and be part of the Valuer Regsittration Scheme (VRS), but we will come on to these points.

This type of valuation is required specifically if you have a Help To Buy equity loan and wish to;

  • repay/redeem your equity loan through selling your property.
  • repay/reedm your equity loan through remortgaging your property and plan to stay in the property.

Your repayment is based on a percentage of your home's value rather than a fixed sum. For instance, if your original loan was for 20%, you must pay back 20% of what the property is worth at the date of valuation. This figure may have gone up or down depending on what the makret demonstrates.


Homes England Criteria

It is essential to instruct a RICS chartered surveyor with valuation experience to meet Homes Englands criteria:

  • both RICS qualified and registered.
  • a RICS member or fellow (MRICS or FRICS) - this applies only to Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2021-2023).
  • independent of any estate agent.
  • not be related or known to you.

Your surveyor needs to:

  • inspect the inside of the property.
  • provide at least 3 comparable properties and sale prices within the last 12 months - they must be like-for-like homes in type, size and age, and within 2 miles of the property that’s being inspected.
  • provide bespoke market commentary and reference how the comparable properties justify the given market value.
  • create, sign and date the survey on company headed paper, addressed to Homes England.

At Lockwood Chartered Surveyors we meet all of these requirements. Both Andrew and Charles have worked for national valuation surveying firms undertaking large numbers of market valuations in Norfolk and Suffolk. This puts us in the best position to understand the local market and provide accurate valuations.

We are thankfully not subject to the commercial pressures anymore and pride ourselves on the extensive research and time we undertake for each and every valuation instruction.

Valuations are valid for a 3-month period from the date of valuation, but can be extended for a further 1-month with a letter or extended for 3-months by issuing a formal report on a desktop basis without pyhsical reinspection.


I have extended my property, but I have a Help To Buy loan

You must inform Homes England about structural alterations, such as extensions, by submitting a 'declaration of work completed' form along with building control approval. Failure to get approval can lead to paying back more, as improvements increase the home’s market value, which dictates the repayment amount. 

Only alterations that are made for medical reasons are accepted.


How long does the 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 office to obtain your free quote or book your valuation. An inspection date and time will be scheduled that is convenient for you.
  • Surveyor Visit: Andrew or Charles will visit your property to conduct a detailed inspection which takes between 30-45 minutes.
  • Valuation Report: After the visit, the surveyor will compile a detailed report, outlining your property’s market value.  You can expect to recieve this 1-2 days following the inspection.

In total, you can expect the entire process to take around 1 week from booking the valuation to receiving your report. However, where there are urgent situations and the need for a RICS Help To Buy valuation has been overlooked, we have been known to visit on the same day and deliver the completed report the following day.

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 the office when booking a valuation.  


Why Choose Lockwood Chartered Surveyors?

  • We are a small local practice based in south Norfolk therefore have a broad knowledge of the local area and the different property types and their defects.
  • We have over 50 years experience in the property industry within Norfolk and Suffolk. 
  • We take our time and only work with a few clients per week ensuring a more thorough inspection and a more personable service.
  • We comply with the stringent guidelines set out by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to produce comprehensive and understandable reports.
  • We have a proven record of delivering quality advice to our clients. 
  • We remain on hand to answer queries following receipt of your report. 
  • Our fees are competitive and value based.