The Help to Buy equity loan scheme helped thousands of buyers in Bolton and across the North West get onto the property ladder. If you used the scheme and are now thinking of selling or "staircasing" (buying a larger share of your home), you'll need a formal RICS valuation — and this is where we come in.

What Is a Help to Buy Valuation?

When you took out a Help to Buy equity loan, the government (via Homes England) lent you up to 20% of the property's value (40% in London) interest-free for the first five years. To repay or increase that loan — whether by selling, remortgaging, or staircasing — you need to establish the current market value of your home.

That valuation must be carried out by a RICS-registered valuer, and it must comply with specific requirements set by Homes England. Not all surveyors are on the approved RICS valuation register, so it's important to choose carefully.

At Bolton Surveyor, all our valuers are RICS-registered and fully experienced in Help to Buy valuations across Bolton and the North West.

When Do You Need a Help to Buy Valuation?

You'll need a Help to Buy RICS valuation when:

  • You're selling your Help to Buy property and need to repay the equity loan
  • You want to staircase — buy a larger share of your equity and reduce the government loan proportion
  • You want to repay the loan in full without selling (e.g. using savings or remortgaging)

The Help to Buy Valuation Process

The process is relatively straightforward:

  1. Contact us to arrange a Help to Buy RICS valuation. We'll confirm availability and fee.
  2. Inspection: We visit the property and carry out a formal inspection, typically taking 1–2 hours.
  3. Valuation report: We produce a RICS Red Book-compliant valuation report, typically within 3–5 working days.
  4. Submit to Homes England: You submit the report to your Help to Buy agent via the Target/FirstPort portal.

Important Things to Know About Help to Buy Valuations

  • The valuation is valid for three months from the date of inspection
  • The valuation must be carried out no more than three months before the sale completion date
  • You'll need to provide the valuation to your Help to Buy agent before they will approve the transaction
  • If you disagree with the valuation, you can commission a second opinion, but this involves specific procedures
  • The equity loan repayment amount is calculated as the same percentage of the current value as was originally borrowed — so if property prices have risen, you'll repay more
"A client in Horwich contacted us who had bought a two-bedroom new-build in 2017 for £175,000, using a 20% Help to Buy equity loan of £35,000. By 2024, the property was worth around £240,000. The equity loan repayment was 20% of £240,000 — £48,000. Understanding this calculation before selling is important, and getting an accurate, fair valuation is essential."
— Robert Ashworth, Senior Surveyor

How Much Does a Help to Buy Valuation Cost in Bolton?

Help to Buy valuations are typically in the range of £200–£350 for a standard property in Bolton, depending on size. This is a fixed-fee service. Contact us for a specific quote.

No. Homes England requires a formal RICS valuation from a registered RICS member for all Help to Buy equity loan transactions. An estate agent's opinion of value does not qualify.

A lower valuation means a lower equity loan repayment — which can actually be beneficial for the seller. If you believe the valuation undervalues your property significantly, there is a formal dispute process through Homes England, which typically involves commissioning a second independent RICS valuation.

Related: Property Valuations in Bolton | Our Valuation Services | Get a Help to Buy Valuation Quote