How our AVM speeds up buy-to-let offers

The valuation is usually the longest wait in a buy-to-let application. On eligible cases our automated valuation model (AVM) provides an instant decision, so there’s no surveyor to book, no visit to arrange and no valuation fee to pay. That means your client can get to offer sooner.

Where the time goes

With a physical valuation, the case waits while a surveyor is instructed, a visit is booked around the tenant, and the report is written up. That can add days or weeks, and it’s the part of the process nobody can speed up by chasing.

An AVM uses property data, recent sales and local market information to value the property. You run it as part of the application, and it gives an instant pass or fail. If it passes, the application carries on as normal and our underwriters review the case with the AVM result.

What it means for your case

• An instant result: you know straight away whether the AVM has passed.
• No visit to arrange: nothing to coordinate with tenants, agents or your client.
• Fewer moving parts: less to chase, so you can give your client a clearer timeline.
• No valuation fees: as a physical valuation isn’t needed, your client saves on average £450
• A clear fallback: if the AVM doesn’t pass, you can carry on with a standard product and a physical valuation.

Between November 2025 and June 2026, our AVM cases typically reached offer around two weeks sooner than cases with a physical valuation. Average time to offer was 18 days, compared to 35 days in cases where a physical valuation was used.

Check eligibility before you submit

The AVM route depends on the property and the case, not just the product. Before you submit, check the case against our AVM criteria: the LTV, the property type, the property value and, for leasehold, the remaining lease term. Cases that don’t fit the criteria can still go ahead with a physical valuation. Checking the criteria first means you only run the AVM on cases that are likely to pass.

If the AVM can’t value the property

If the AVM doesn’t pass, you can continue the application with a standard physical valuation product instead, without starting again. AVMs are only available for standard properties where there’s enough historical data to give a reliable property value and rental estimate. That’s why they’re not suitable for new builds, self-builds or unusual property types, or in areas with few recent sales or rentals. Even when an AVM passes, we may still ask for a physical valuation on some cases.

Frequently asked questions

Which cases can use an AVM?
Standard buy-to-let cases that meet our AVM criteria, including the LTV, property type, property value and lease length. Our AVM criteria page sets these out in full.

Is an AVM available on remortgages and purchases?
It depends on the product range. Some AVM options are available on remortgages only. Check our AVM criteria page for the current policy.

What is the application fee when choosing an AVM product?
The application fee on AVM products is £249, compared with £199 on non-AVM products.

Is there a valuation fee with an AVM?
No. As a physical valuation isn’t needed, there’s no valuation fee to pay, saving your client on average £450.

What happens if the AVM value is lower than expected?
We lend on the value the AVM returns. If your client believes the property is worth more, you can switch to one of our standard products with a physical valuation instead. The valuation fee is then payable in the usual way.

Can I choose a physical valuation instead?
Yes. AVM is an option on eligible cases, not a requirement.

Does the AVM work for HMOs and multi-unit blocks?
No. HMOs and multi-unit freehold blocks need a physical valuation.