Mortgage valuations & surveys

A handy guide to our mortgage valuations and surveys: why we need them, what they cost and what they mean for your mortgage application.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Standard mortgage valuation

This provides us, the lender, with guidance on what the property is worth. It applies to all mortgage applications, including house purchases and remortgages.

icon image of house and pound sign with clipboard

Homebuyer Survey & Valuation

This focuses on urgent matters needing attention but doesn't detail every aspect of the property. It includes a standard valuation.

Standard mortgage valuation
Valuation fees
Homebuyer Survey & Valuation

The standard mortgage valuation

Before we can lend to you, we need to carry out a standard mortgage valuation to check that the property provides adequate security for the loan we are providing to you. This applies to all applications for a new home purchase or remortgage.

We also use this to calculate the proportion of your loan compared to the value of your property (this is known as the Loan to Value or LTV).

This is not a survey and so may not identify any repairs that might be needed. Because of this, we strongly recommend that you obtain either a Homebuyer Survey or a Building Survey to give you a more detailed inspection of the property.

How we conduct a valuation

We instruct a valuer to visit the property and produce a written valuation report
We may use a specialist database to compare the details against other comparable properties in the area
We may, at our discretion, carry out a Property Assessment as an alternative to a physical inspection of the whole property (based on database information, an external appraisal of the property by a valuer, or a combination of both).

In some circumstances we may ask the valuer to carry out a quick check of the outside of the property (known sometimes as a drive-by valuation). When this applies, a standard mortgage valuation can be requested at a later date and you will need to cover the cost of this.

The Valuation Report

If a full internal inspection of the property has been carried out you will receive a copy of the valuation report soon after.
If you apply for a fee-assisted mortgage product, it's important to note that you may not receive a copy.
If we carry out a drive-by valuation, carry out a database valuation or a Property Assessment, you will not receive a copy.

If you do receive a copy of the report, please remember it is not a homebuyer's survey - it will not give you any indication as to whether the property is worth what you are paying for it nor will it provide you with a list of any repairs that may be needed.

Existing customer valuations

If you are an existing mortgage customer there are some scenarios where you may need to carry out a new valuation (or ‘revaluation’) of your property. If you'd like to take out an additional loan, we will need to obtain a revaluation of your property. We do not require a revaluation when you are transferring to a new mortgage product, although you can request one if you believe the value of your property has risen since the original valuation.

To find out more about the revaluation process, please call us on 0345 1200 822*

A non-refundable fee of £70 is payable for revaluations on additional loan application and existing borrower transfers. This fee is payable in full at application and cannot be added to the loan amount.

Homebuyer Survey & Valuation

Includes a standard valuation

Is it right for you?

It is suitable for most conventional properties in a reasonable condition
It focuses on both minor and major faults which need attention
It will highlight any urgent problems requiring a specialist inspection
It can help you make an informed judgement on whether or not you should purchase a property and whether or not the purchase price is reasonable (as well as the estimated rebuilding cost which can be used for insurance purposes).
Whilst it doesn’t include every aspect of a property, the following details are included: the general condition of the property, the results of damp tests and the current condition of any damp-proofing, insulation and drainage, damage to timbers and the value on the open market.

Building Survey

We don't offer a building survey as it does not include a standard valuation

Is it right for you?

The Building Survey is a more detailed and comprehensive report
It is suitable for all residential properties (including period properties, those with extensive accommodation or in a particular state of repair).
It can be tailored to suit your particular needs
There is no standard scale of fees for a Building Survey but the cost is higher than the Homebuyer Survey

A valuation is not included but this can be arranged directly with the surveyor and will be required for us to process your mortgage application. The surveyor will contact you to discuss the details before starting the survey.

What if I already have a report from a Homebuyer Survey or Building Survey?

Unfortunately, we cannot accept Homebuyer or Building Surveys that have already been carried out on properties in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. All cases must have a valuation carried out by our approved panel of valuers. Please refer to the survey options above.

What about valuation fees?

Unless you have chosen one of our fee-assisted mortgages, you will need to pay a valuation fee which covers the cost of the mortgage valuation. This is payable at application.

Unless you tell us otherwise, we will instruct the valuation as soon as we begin to process your application (providing the fee has been paid). Once a valuation has been carried out, we can't refund the fee even if your mortgage does not go ahead.

View a breakdown of valuation fees (including the cost if you decide to opt for a Homebuyer Survey which includes the cost of a standard mortgage valuation).

How mortgage valuations may affect your mortgage application

There is a possibility that the property will receive a valuation at less than you were prepared to pay for it, or estimated the value at. This may affect your Loan to Value which may mean that you no longer qualify for a specific mortgage deal.

What to do if this happens

If this happens you will have to switch to another mortgage product with a higher LTV, or it may mean that we are unable to offer you a mortgage. There is no cost for switching to another product under these circumstances.

If we are unable to offer you a mortgage after your mortgage valuation, any mortgage application processing fee or valuation fees would not be refunded.

Call us or book an appointment

Speak to one of our friendly mortgage advisers about your options.

Request an appointment

0345 166 9510*

9am - 5pm Mon-Fri 9am - 1pm Sat

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