RTB Valuation – Tenant Improvements & Whether to Query or Go to District Valuer

db281

Hi all,

I’m helping my mum with the Right to Buy process for her housing association home, and we’re trying to make sense of a few things in the offer.

The HA’s valuation says they’ve excluded a list of improvements my mum’s made over the years—like fitting her own bathroom, installing patio doors and much more—but they don’t say how much they actually deducted for those. Judging by the final figure, it honestly doesn’t feel like they knocked anything off at all. And if they did, the original valuation must’ve been seriously high to start with.

She had her own RICS survey and valuation done independently, and as suspected, that came in £5k lower than the HA’s—but that’s with all her improvements included. So it raises questions.

They’ve also offered her a 69% discount, but she’s been in the same property for 40 years, so we thought she’d be entitled to the full 70%. Unless there’s some clause we’re not aware of?

I’m wondering—would it be worth writing to the HA to ask for a breakdown of how much they deducted for her improvements and how they got to their valuation? Or is it better to just go straight to the District Valuer at this point?

Mum’s understandably concerned the DV could increase the valuation, which would push up the final price. But given the discrepancy, and the lower figure from her own surveyor, it feels like it might be worth the risk.

Anyone been through this and have any advice?

And just to be clear—I know RTB can be a bit of a flashpoint. But my mum’s been in this home for over four decades, and she’s just trying to understand the process and make an informed choice based on a right she’s entitled to. That’s all.

Appreciate any thoughts. 

lincroft1710

A lot of "improvements over the years" will in themselves add very little to a house's value. Patio doors will add very little if anything and can be seen as undesirable in some cases. A 5 or 10 year old bathroom or kitchen isn't going to add much value.


When I worked at the VOA I used to see lists of some of these tenant's improvements when we had RTB cases to deal with and quite frankly some of them would have just made no difference to the house's value. 


Sorry but can't comment on the percentage discount or whether the HA would enter into a discussion on its valuation principles.


If your mother is seriously unhappy with the HA valuation then I would suggest she goes to the DV