Secured Lending Valuations – Independent Advice You Can Rely On

When a property is being used as security for a loan, the valuation underpinning that decision is critical. Lenders need a clear, objective view of market value, risk and saleability, while borrowers need confidence that the asset is being assessed fairly and in line with current market evidence. This is where a secured lending valuation plays a central role.

At Olden Property, Tom Olden regularly undertakes secured lending valuations for banks, specialist lenders, private funds, solicitors and private clients across residential, commercial and mixed-use property.

What Is a Secured Lending Valuation?

A secured lending valuation is prepared to support a loan where property is offered as security. The report focuses on the property’s Market Value, together with commentary on marketability, tenure, condition, planning considerations and any factors that may affect the lender’s ability to recover the loan in the event of default.

These valuations are typically prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the “Red Book”) and are suitable for lending and internal credit approval purposes.

Why Lenders and Borrowers Need Them

For lenders, a secured lending valuation provides:

· An independent assessment of Market Value

· Commentary on liquidity and demand in the relevant sector

· Identification of risks, abnormal factors or title issues

· Confidence that lending decisions are supported by robust evidence

For borrowers, a properly prepared valuation helps to ensure:

· The asset is not undervalued due to poor or generic assumptions

· The lender has a clear understanding of the property and its context

· The lending process progresses efficiently, with fewer valuation queries

In short, a strong valuation reduces friction on both sides of the transaction.

Experience in Secured Lending

Tom Olden is a Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer with extensive experience across secured lending, Red Book valuations and property advisory work. He acts for a wide range of lenders and borrowers, valuing:

· Residential property, including short-lease and non-standard assets

· Commercial investments such as offices, retail and industrial property

· Mixed-use buildings with income and redevelopment considerations

· Properties affected by planning risk, title complexity or occupation issues

This breadth of experience is particularly valuable where properties fall outside “vanilla” lending criteria.

A Practical, Market-Led Approach

Secured lending valuations prepared by Olden Property are grounded in detailed analysis of comparable evidence, local market conditions and current investor and occupier sentiment. Reports are written clearly, with assumptions and risks set out transparently, enabling lenders to make informed decisions without unnecessary ambiguity.

Where appropriate, Tom can also provide sensitivity analysis, commentary on alternative use value, or insight into how a property might perform in a forced-sale scenario, depending on the lender’s requirements.

When You Might Need a Secured Lending Valuation

A secured lending valuation is commonly required for:

· Bank and specialist lender finance

· Bridging loans and short-term funding

· Private lending secured against property

· Refinancing existing debt

· Portfolio lending and restructuring

Each instruction is treated individually, recognising that no two lending decisions are the same.

Independent, Robust and Defensible

At Olden Property, the focus is on producing valuations that are independent, defensible and aligned with how the market actually behaves. This approach protects lenders, supports borrowers and stands up to scrutiny from credit committees, auditors and regulators.

If you require a secured lending valuation, or would like to discuss whether your property or transaction is suitable for this type of instruction, Tom would be pleased to advise.