district valuer querying value of house, i replied, how long to they take to decide?

Fairplayguy

Hello, 

I'm the executor for my late mother who died March 2024. 

The estate required iht to be paid and included a property. 

I valued the property as the average of three estate agents valuations, paid the iht and was granted probate in April 2025. Prior to probate I did not get a RICS valuation. 

The district valuer wrote to me at the beginning of June 2024 asking for pictures of the house and a few details. I replied via email. They emailed back to say I would hear in due course. 

I subsequently got a RICS valuation for the date of death which came out £7000 lower than the estate agents' valuation. I have not as yet informed the district valuer's office of this lower valuation.

1. How long should I expect to wait to hear whether they will have further queries?

2. Presumably if they do have further enquires the RICS valuation will carry some weight in my favour? Will i be able to claim a tax rebate of the 40% tax paid on the £7000 above the RICS valuation. 

thank-you 

Hoenir

Did the property eventually sell for an amount higher than the probate valuation after taking into account fees paid? 

Fairplayguy

nope property is not being sold

Hoenir

If probate has been granted then the District Valuer was satisfied with the valuation provided on the application. 

Fairplayguy

the district valuer has been asked to make investigations after probate was granted. I believe it's routine for detailed scrutiny of the information submitted on the iht 400 to occur after the granting is issued. It says as much on that part of the iht 400 at the end just before you sign it. 

Hoenir

Send the RICS report in then to support your figures. 

Any reason that something has triggered their interest? 

lincroft1710

Quite normal for the DV to be asked for their opinion of value of property attracting IHT.


Impossible to say how long before you hear from them

Fairplayguy

well i sent them the RICS  valuation and the DV emailed back to say he didn't agree with it based on local property sales.  He is inviting me to offer an uplifted figure, but not as yet offering any revised figure himself. Not quite sure what to do next. 

Hoenir

Have you spoken to the surveyor that prepared the RICS valuation report and discussed it with them. 



  

lincroft1710

Ball is now in your court.  You say RICS valuation was £7K lower than EAs, which is pretty meaningless without any context. On a £150K property, quite substantial, on a £700K property, chicken feed.

Fairplayguy

Hoenir said:

Have you spoken to the surveyor that prepared the RICS valuation report and discussed it with them. 



  

left a message on their answerphone yesterday. as yet no response.