Help to Buy Valuation in AB51 | Inverurie & Aberdeenshire

The Help to Buy (Scotland) Affordable New Build Scheme was set up to help first-time buyers buy new build properties with just a 5% deposit, while the Scottish Government lends up to 15% of the property value as an equity loan. For homeowners across the AB51 area who bought through the scheme, there comes a point when the loan has to be redeemed in full, the property remortgaged onto a standard mortgage product, or the home sold. In every one of those cases, a RICS Red Book valuation is needed so the current market value can be established.

Inverurie, the largest town within AB51, has had a mixed housing market in recent years. There is a decent spread of property types, from modern developments on the edge of town to traditional stone homes in the centre. On North Street in Inverurie, flats have been the dominant type, while the surrounding residential streets include a mix of detached and terraced houses. Those local market patterns matter when we value Help to Buy properties, because the valuer has to look at comparable sales from the right part of the town. Our surveyors who work in Inverurie day in and day out know which streets have had recent sales, and they can pull together the right comparables for your report.

For homeowners in AB51 looking to redeem an equity loan, current market conditions bring a bit of both pressure and opportunity. Prices are around 9% below the 2015 peak, so some owners may have less equity than they expected, although others may have seen stronger growth depending on when they bought and where the property sits within AB51. Semi-detached properties in Aberdeenshire rose by 1.5% in the year to December 2025, while flats fell by 3.2%, which shows how differently each property type has performed. Our surveyors know the Inverurie and wider Aberdeenshire market well, so the valuations we provide reflect what is happening now rather than a generic average.

Book a Help to Buy valuation with us, and we cover every requirement from Target Servicing. The report is addressed to the Post Completion Department at Target Servicing Limited, dated within three months of your planned redemption, and includes a declaration that confirms our independence from both borrower and lender. We also supply floor plans, photographs of the property, and a clear statement of current market value, which is what Target Servicing needs to work out the redemption figure.

• RICS Red Book compliant valuation
• Independent surveyor requirement met
• Valuation addressed to Target Servicing
• Report dated within 3 months of redemption

For Help to Buy equity loan redemption in Scotland, the valuation has to be carried out in line with the RICS Valuation - Global Standards, usually referred to as the Red Book. It is not optional, because Target Servicing specifically asks for a Red Book compliant valuation before it will process the redemption application. The report must confirm the current market value of your property and state that the surveyor is independent of the borrower and any lender involved. We include that in every report we prepare for AB51 homeowners.

The AB51 area has its own quirks, and our surveyors know the local market nuances that move property values. Inverurie and the nearby Aberdeenshire villages each have distinct markets, with prices changing quite a bit from one street or development to another. A property in the town centre may command a different premium from a newer home on the outskirts, for example. Because we know the area, we can base your valuation on true market value using comparable evidence from your specific location within AB51. We also know which parts of the area have seen the most activity, and we can source comparables that Target Servicing will accept.

Market conditions across AB51 and the wider Aberdeenshire area have been a little volatile lately. Overall prices have fallen by 4% over the last 12 months, although the picture is different depending on the property type. Semi-detached homes in Aberdeenshire saw a 1.5% increase in the year to December 2025, while flats were down by 3.2%. That sort of split is exactly why a local surveyor matters, rather than a generic automated valuation model. Our team looks at those trends carefully when valuing your property.

Many AB51 homeowners are not aware of how the equity loan percentage works once values move. If your property has dropped in value since you bought it, you may have to repay more than your original equity loan percentage to clear the loan. If it has risen, you may be able to redeem for less than that original percentage. Our surveyor provides the current market value, then Target Servicing calculates the exact repayment amount from that figure. Some owners have to find extra funds to cover a shortfall, and we can talk you through that process when we send the report.