A message to all our customers and their financial advisers - last updated 5th March

You might find the valuations process is taking longer than usual due to the current environment. Thank you for your patience, we're working hard to keep things moving as quickly as possible.

Following advice from our valuation provider, we are pleased to advise that physical property valuations remain available during this lockdown and our valuation process remains unchanged.

Keeping your clients safe

Our valuation provider will contact your clients to arrange a physical evaluation. As part of the booking process, our valuation provider will carry out a risk assessment to check that it is safe to visit the property and the clients are happy to have a valuer in their home.

If we are unable to obtain a physical evaluation, we will aim to provide a desktop valuation where possible. Please note that when we calculate the amount we can lend; this will be based on 95% of the desktop valuation.

Purchasing and porting cases

As you will be aware, the property market is experiencing high volumes of clients wishing to complete purchases before the stamp duty holiday ends. The government has extended the stamp duty nil rate band to £500,000 until June 2021. After this the level at which stamp duty is paid will reduce to £250,000 until September 2021.

We are processing cases as quickly as possible. To help us progress cases please ensure your client and their solicitor complete any requests for information as promptly as possible. Your client may still wish to complete the purchase, even if they cannot complete before the stamp duty holiday ends. If so, they will need to ensure they have sufficient funds available to cover the stamp duty that will be payable.