Help to Buy Valuation in Herne and Broomfield

A Help to Buy valuation is a particular kind of RICS Red Book valuation, one Homes England requires when an equity loan is being repaid, a remortgage is going through, or a sale is under way. It sets the current market value of the home, which then feeds straight into the amount due on the equity loan. In Herne and Broomfield, where the market stretches from flats to detached family homes, getting that figure right matters for owners planning a move.

We look at comparable properties in the local area to arrive at your property's market value. Around Herne and Broomfield, that means recent sales on similar streets and within comparable developments, with the four conservation areas, Broomfield, Herne, Hawe Farm, and Herne Mill, and the 31 listed buildings taken into account for the character they add. Homes in or close to conservation areas can carry extra factors that affect value, and our local knowledge means they are properly reflected in the valuation.

Herne Conservation Area covers the village’s historic heart, with its medieval street pattern and early 16th-century buildings, including Strode House and Herne Hospital. Broomfield Conservation Area takes in the original scattered houses of the hamlet of Broomfield and the distinctive pond. Those heritage designations can have a real effect on value, so our surveyors weigh up both the benefits and the restrictions they bring.

Homes England needs the valuation report addressed to it, and it must include at least three comparable properties from within a two-mile radius. Our chartered surveyors know Herne and Broomfield well, so we can identify the right comparables whether the property sits on a newer development or is a character home in the historic village centre. The report stays valid for three months, which gives time to move ahead with a sale, remortgage, or equity loan repayment.

• RICS Red Book compliant valuation
• Addressed to Homes England
• Minimum 3 local comparables
• Valid for 3 months
• Internal property inspection
• MRICS or FRICS chartered surveyor

When you bought through Help to Buy, the government lent up to 20% (or 40% in London) of the property value through an equity loan. That loan sits against the property, and on a sale or remortgage you repay a percentage of the home’s current value, not the original purchase price. In Herne and Broomfield, where values have shifted significantly since the peak in 2022, knowing the repayment figure matters for planning ahead.

Our valuation gives Homes England the market value it uses to work out the repayment figure. For instance, if a property was bought for £300,000 with a 20% equity loan (£60,000), and it is now valued at £350,000, the amount to repay would be £70,000, which is 20% of the current value. The RICS report we provide keeps that figure accurate and legally compliant, so there is no overpaying or underpaying on the equity loan.

Herne and Broomfield has seen noticeable price adjustments recently, with overall prices down 11% from the 2022 peak of £385,788. Some streets have moved further still, and Broomfield Road, for example, has seen prices fall 13% in the last year alone and 31% from its 2022 peak. For owners who bought near the top of the market, that context matters. Our valuations reflect present conditions, so whether the plan is selling, remortgaging, or simply weighing up options, the numbers make sense.

Local economic factors also play their part in values here. The Strode Park Foundation, a charity supporting disabled people, is the largest employer in the area with nearly 200 staff. There are also local amenities such as The Smugglers Inn, The Huntsman & Horn, The Curious Cat, and The Butcher's Arms micro pub, plus Goody Ales and a range of retail units along the main roads. These employment and amenity links feed into the area’s appeal, and we take them into account.

• Accurate current market valuation
• Compliant with Homes England requirements
• Professional RICS report
• Financial planning clarity
• Valid for 3 months