We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!

Is it true that all lenders use essentially 2 valuation companies?

Question as in topic:
My broker told me that all lenders use 1 of 2 valuation agencies accross the UK, and if one lender got property downvalued, then you need to look for the lender who would use different agency?

On top, how common is to win a downvaluation appeal with lender, as the valuation is too far from market reality?
I own an EV. AMA

Comments

  • Legal and general surveying services
    Countrywide surveys 
    Connells surveyors
    Valunation
    Enact

    I think that's the biggest ones who do most of them.  But within that they will panel out to local firms if too busy or if the property is specialist or something. 

    These smaller firms will do the survey and send it back to the one who panelled it out to them who then send it back to the lender
  • yessuz
    yessuz Posts: 259 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Legal and general surveying services
    Countrywide surveys 
    Connells surveyors
    Valunation
    Enact

    I think that's the biggest ones who do most of them.  But within that they will panel out to local firms if too busy or if the property is specialist or something. 

    These smaller firms will do the survey and send it back to the one who panelled it out to them who then send it back to the lender
    Fair enough. Then question is following:
    1) which one is used by NatWest?
    2) my my broker stated that only 2?
    I own an EV. AMA
  • Nat west use legal and general. 
    As above list from JMA there is also E-Surv who are very large. 
    Enact are conveyancers, not surveyors as far as I know. 
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 120,609 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It can vary in areas but L&G do the vast majority in our area.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • Nat west use legal and general. 
    As above list from JMA there is also E-Surv who are very large. 
    Enact are conveyancers, not surveyors as far as I know. 
    I have been mixing up enact and esurv for about 6 years now.  I have just resigned myself to making this mistake until my dying day
  • Nat west use legal and general. 
    As above list from JMA there is also E-Surv who are very large. 
    Enact are conveyancers, not surveyors as far as I know. 
    I have been mixing up enact and esurv for about 6 years now.  I have just resigned myself to making this mistake until my dying day
    Lol does the “surv” in E-surv not give you a little help? 
    To be honest, everything is so frazzled at the moment it wouldn’t surprise me if esurv started doing Conveyancing and enact started doing surveys soon. 
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 246K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.8K Life & Family
  • 259.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.