Help to Buy Valuation Buckinghamshire

A Help to Buy valuation starts with a RICS surveyor inspecting the property internally, measuring it, and looking at its overall condition. From there, we research local Buckinghamshire sales evidence to work out the current market value. The report must contain at least three comparables of a similar type, size, and age, ideally within two miles of the property. Because it is prepared for Homes England, it cannot include any improvements made since purchase. Our surveyors know the local stock well, from flats in Aylesbury to detached houses in the Chilterns, which helps with accurate comparable selection.

In Buckinghamshire, Help to Buy valuations usually cost between £195 and £850, depending on value and size. Larger homes in higher-value locations such as the Chilterns, Beaconsfield, and Marlow are generally towards the top of that range, while smaller flats in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes tend to cost less. We offer pricing from £195 for Buckinghamshire properties. The fee reflects the size of the property, the complexity of the location, and the level of market research needed to produce a sound valuation.

Your Help to Buy valuation stays valid for three months from the survey date. If the matter takes longer, a desktop review can extend that by a further three months, making six months in total. After six months from the original valuation date, if the sale or equity loan repayment still has not completed, a new full valuation is needed. A desktop review is lighter-touch because it updates the original figure without another physical inspection, but it can only be used once for each valuation.

No. A Help to Buy valuation is for Homes England equity loan repayment calculations and cannot be used for mortgage lending. If you also need a mortgage valuation or a more detailed inspection, we would need to arrange a separate RICS valuation or survey. Our surveyors can talk through what you need and point you to the right service. We also offer RICS Level 2 and Level 3 surveys for mortgage or renovation purposes where a more detailed assessment is required.

If your Buckinghamshire home has risen in value since you bought it with Help to Buy, the repayment is worked out from the current market value. Take a property bought for £300,000 with a 20% equity loan of £60,000. If it is now worth £400,000, the amount repayable becomes £80,000, which is 20% of £400,000, not the original £60,000. The current market value comes from the RICS valuation. With Buckinghamshire property prices having increased by approximately 2.3% in the past year, plenty of owners may find their home is worth more than it was at purchase.

You do not need to move out for the Help to Buy valuation. Our surveyor simply needs access to all rooms, plus any loft space that is accessible and any outbuildings. It also helps if you can show any relevant paperwork, such as earlier survey reports or building control completion certificates for renovations. Before the appointment, we recommend making sure all areas can be reached easily, including locked rooms and storage spaces, so the assessment can be completed properly.

We cover the whole of Buckinghamshire for Help to Buy valuations, including the main towns and villages. That includes Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Buckingham, Amersham, Chesham, Marlow, Beaconsfield, and surrounding areas. Some instructions are for new build homes at Hampden Fields in Aylesbury, others are for period property in the Chilterns, and our surveyors understand the local market dynamics in both. We can also arrange valuations in more rural parts of the county, including the Aylesbury Vale.

Flood risk does not automatically cut the value of a property, but it is something a surveyor will consider. In Buckinghamshire, 18,380 properties are at risk of surface water flooding and 3,357 are at risk of fluvial flooding. Chesham and High Wycombe are both designated as national significant Flood Risk Areas. Our surveyors record any relevant flood risk in the valuation report because it can matter to buyers and lenders, and homes in higher-risk locations may need particular insurance consideration.