No physical survey. No waiting weeks for a RICS appointment. No upfront valuation cost on AVM cases. For qualifying properties, AF Credit completes in days — not weeks.
No-val bridging is not a niche product — it is the right tool in a wide range of situations where speed, cost saving, or certainty matters more than the marginal extra LTV a full inspection provides.
The 28-day auction deadline makes a physical valuation a real risk. AVM (instant) or desktop (48–72 hrs) removes that risk entirely — completing comfortably inside any auction deadline.
Investors with standard residential stock — terraced and semi-detached houses, purpose-built flats — in active markets are ideal AVM candidates. No surveyor appointments to coordinate.
Capital raising against a standard residential property you already own. No surveyor appointment needed — funds can be available in under a week on AVM-eligible properties.
Refinancing multiple BTL properties simultaneously? AVM or desktop on each avoids weeks of surveyor diary coordination and cuts valuation costs dramatically.
When your buyer has pulled out and you need to complete on a purchase without selling first. Speed is everything — no-val removes the one delay you can control.
Refurbishment complete. Existing lender won't extend. Desktop valuation on the post-works value avoids the risk of an unfamiliar surveyor undervaluing the finished product.
Where works are cosmetic and the property is habitable, desktop valuation can support borrowing against the current or recently-completed value without a site visit.
Probate, inheritance tax payment, business opportunity, settlement deadline — where speed is the primary requirement and the property is standard residential.
No prior bridging experience required. AF Credit guides first-time borrowers through the process — eligibility, costs, and exit are all assessed transparently at enquiry stage.
Not sure if you qualify? We assess no-val eligibility on the day you enquire — same-day decision, no credit search, no obligation. Tell us the property address and loan required.
The term is slightly misleading — and most pages explaining it get this wrong.
"No valuation" means no physical inspection — no RICS surveyor visiting the property. Your property is still assessed for value, but through faster, cheaper methods: AVM, desktop valuation, or an existing report. No appointment. No surveyor access. No upfront fee on AVM cases.
In a traditional bridging loan, the lender instructs a RICS-qualified surveyor to physically inspect the property — measuring it, assessing its condition, researching comparable sales, and producing a written red book valuation report. This process is thorough. It is also expensive (£1,500–£3,000 upfront) and slow (7–21 days from booking to report delivery).
A no valuation bridging loan replaces the physical inspection with one of several alternative methods. The lender is still assessing the value — simply without requiring a surveyor appointment, internal inspection, or the associated cost and delay.
AF Credit's approach: We assess no-val eligibility at enquiry stage — same day. If your property qualifies for AVM, we can proceed instantly with zero valuation cost. If it qualifies for desktop, we instruct the surveyor immediately and typically have a result within 48–72 hours. We always tell you upfront which route applies.
Understanding this determines whether your property qualifies, which route applies, and what the maximum LTV will be. AVM — the fastest and cheapest — works best where data is plentiful and property is standard. Desktop works where a qualified surveyor can form a reliable opinion remotely. Where neither is sufficient, a physical inspection is required. That does not mean we cannot lend — it simply means the no-val route is not available for that property.
Not all no-val bridging is the same. There are four distinct routes lenders use to assess property value without a physical inspection, each with different speeds, costs, and eligibility criteria.
Algorithm-driven instant estimate using Land Registry, Rightmove sold prices, EPC records, and comparable databases. Returns a value and confidence score in minutes. No human involvement — no cost.
RICS-qualified surveyor conducts a structured remote assessment using comparable sales, planning records, aerial imagery, Street View, and EPC data. Formal report with professional indemnity coverage.
RICS surveyor visits the property externally — inspecting the building condition, street, and location — without internal access. A halfway measure between desktop and full inspection.
On very low LTV cases or where an existing recent RICS report can be reassigned, the lender assesses using the existing professional opinion without commissioning a new valuation. Used selectively.
If you already have a RICS red book valuation from a previous mortgage application, an earlier bridging enquiry, or a prior sale attempt, AF Credit may be able to use it — saving you both the cost and the time of commissioning a new report.
How it works in practice: Send us your existing report at enquiry stage. We review it the same day and confirm whether it is acceptable, whether we need a desktop update, or whether a new report is required. In many cases — particularly at conservative LTVs — an existing report is all we need. No new fees, no new surveyor appointment.
No-val lending works best when the property type, LTV, comparable evidence, and exit strategy produce a risk profile the lender is comfortable with remotely.
We confirm the route before you pay anything. Tell us the property address and we will confirm AVM, desktop, or full inspection — before you commit any costs.
Likely to require full inspection:
Tell us the property address, loan amount and exit — we confirm which route applies the same day. No cost, no commitment, no credit search at enquiry stage.
A complete comparison of every valuation route available in bridging finance — speed, cost, accuracy, and when each applies.
| Factor | AVM | Desktop | Drive-by | Full RICS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to borrower | £0 | £250–£600 | £300–£800 | £1,500–£3,000+ |
| Turnaround time | Instant | 48–72 hours | 2–5 days | 7–21 days |
| Physical inspection | None | None | External only | Full internal |
| RICS surveyor involved | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Max LTV (AF Credit) | 65% | 75% | 65–70% | 75% |
| Best property types | Standard resi, active markets | Wider resi & BTL range | Condition uncertainty | Commercial, HMO, complex |
| Suitable for auction | Yes — ideal | Yes | Yes | Tight — depends on timeline |
For most borrowers, AVM or desktop is the right route. AVM is free and instant on qualifying standard residential property. Desktop covers a wider range, supports up to 75% LTV, and completes in 48–72 hours — at a fraction of the cost of a full physical inspection.
No-val bridging is usually about removing the single biggest source of uncertainty and delay in the transaction. Here are the scenarios where it makes the most difference.
A physical valuation takes 7–21 days. An auction completion deadline is 28 days — sometimes 20 or 14. AVM (instant) or desktop (48–72 hours) removes this bottleneck entirely. AF Credit regularly completes auction-financed purchases using AVM or desktop routes well inside the deadline.
When a refurbishment is complete and the existing lender is unwilling to extend, the borrower needs to rebridge quickly. A no-val rebridge avoids both the delay of instructing a new surveyor and the risk of a down-valuation from a surveyor unfamiliar with the local market or quality of finish.
Refinancing multiple BTL properties using physical valuations requires separate surveyor appointments for each asset. On standard residential stock, AVM or desktop dramatically reduces both the cost and timeline — avoiding weeks of surveyor diary coordination.
When a mainstream mortgage lender declines or delays at underwriting, the borrower needs bridging finance quickly. On standard property at appropriate LTV, a no-val bridge means the borrower can pivot from a declined mortgage to a completed bridge in under a week.
Bridging finance against an inherited property — to settle an estate, pay inheritance tax, or buy out other beneficiaries. Where probate is progressing but cash is needed immediately, a no-val bridge against a standard residential asset can complete fast without complex surveyor coordination.
Raising capital against a property you already own — to fund a business opportunity, acquire another asset, or bridge a cash flow gap. Where the underlying property is standard and well-evidenced, no-val means capital can be released in days rather than weeks.
We do not quote exact figures before we know the deal, because they vary by case. What we can tell you is what typically applies and why. No hidden costs — we confirm everything before you commit.
All figures are indicative. Final costs are subject to underwriting, valuation outcome and legal due diligence. Terms are not a commitment to lend.
Model gross loan, net advance, and total interest against your scenario. Adjust interest type, rate, and term to match your case.
No-val bridging removes the biggest bottleneck in any bridging transaction — the physical valuation. Here is what the process looks like on a qualifying AVM or desktop case.
Most no-val "failures" are not outright declines — they are route changes. Understanding the triggers helps you present your case in the strongest possible way.
The AVM returns a confidence score alongside the value estimate. If confidence is low — because comparable transaction volume is thin or the property is unusual for the street — the case escalates to desktop. Not a refusal; a route change. Desktop may well support the value.
If the most recent comparable sale in the area is 18 months old, or if comparables are varied in quality, neither AVM nor desktop can produce a reliable opinion with confidence. A physical inspection allows a valuer to assess value with local market knowledge.
HMO, commercial, mixed-use, listed building, non-standard construction, or derelict property will not pass AVM or desktop eligibility. The case does not fail — it requires a full physical inspection. AF Credit lends on all these types via a different route.
A leasehold property with fewer than 70 years remaining carries material value risk — the cost of a lease extension can represent 10–30% of the property's value. This risk cannot be adequately captured by AVM or desktop and typically requires a full inspection.
The exit strategy is evaluated at the same time as the valuation route. A vague exit ("I'll sell it when it's ready") on a property in a slow market is a harder case. A weak exit does not help the case for no-val — it undermines it.
Requesting above 65% LTV on an AVM case will result in a route change to desktop, not a refusal. Desktop supports up to 75% LTV. Above 75%, a full physical inspection is required. Understanding the LTV caps for each route avoids mid-process changes.
The bottom line: No-val bridging is not all-or-nothing. If AVM fails, we look at desktop. If desktop fails, we look at a full inspection. AF Credit lends across the full spectrum. The valuation route is a means to an end — not a barrier to lending.
There are lenders that offer no-val bridging. Here is what is different about AF Credit's approach.
We are the lender. When you speak to us, you are talking to the underwriter — not a broker. We make our own credit decisions, same day, on the call.
No setup fee, no AVM cost, no obligation. We run the AVM at enquiry stage — if it supports your loan, you pay nothing until you commit. Most borrowers pay nothing for their valuation.
Many lenders offering no-val bridging cap at 65% LTV. AF Credit lends up to 75% on desktop-valued properties — the same maximum as a full RICS inspection.
Rate, LTV, structure and fee confirmed before you spend any money. We issue indicative terms on qualifying enquiries the same day — typically within a few hours.
We tell you whether AVM, desktop, or full inspection applies before you pay anything. No surprises after you have committed costs.
Once you decide to proceed and we make a credit decision, we instruct solicitors within 12 hours. No internal processing delays.
Repay early without penalty. If your exit completes ahead of schedule, you pay interest only to the redemption date — nothing more.
From small residential bridges to larger investment transactions. One underwriting team, consistent process, and direct decisions throughout.
These completed deals all used a no-val route. No physical surveyor site visit was required on any of them.
Post-refurbishment rebridge at 65% LTV. No physical survey, no-search indemnity. Existing lender had refused to extend. Hard deadline met.
Read the full case study → Penge, South East London · Rebridge · Desktop£485,000 rebridge at 65% gross LTV. Desktop valuation only. Dual exit. Title restriction and right of way resolved via solicitor undertaking.
Read the full case study → Walton-on-Thames · Capital Raise · Existing ReportExisting RICS report audited and accepted at 40% LTV. No surveyor instructed. No valuation fees. Capital released same week.
Read the full case study →Estimate your gross loan, net advance and total interest cost. Adjust the LTV, rate, and interest type to match your scenario. Results are indicative — final terms depend on the property, your profile and exit strength.
Use open market value, or purchase price if buying.
AVM is free and instant. Desktop takes 48–72 hrs and costs £250–£600.
Max 75% LTV on desktop valuation cases.
Minimum 3 months. Match to your exit timeline.
From 0.79%/month. Case dependent on property, profile and exit.
Retained reduces your day-one net advance. Serviced requires monthly payments.
Indicative — varies by solicitor, charge type and complexity.
Tell us the property address and required loan amount — we confirm the valuation route and issue same-day indicative terms at no cost and with no commitment to proceed.
Figures are indicative and do not constitute an offer or commitment to lend. Final terms are subject to valuation, underwriting and legal due diligence.
Straightforward answers to the questions we get asked on most no-val enquiries.
A no valuation bridging loan is a short-term secured loan where the lender does not require a physical RICS surveyor to visit and inspect the property. Instead, the lender assesses the security using an AVM (automated algorithm), desktop valuation (RICS surveyor working remotely), or an existing RICS report. The term is slightly misleading — the lender always needs a view on value. "No valuation" means no physical inspection, not no assessment at all.
It means no physical inspection — no surveyor visiting your property. Your property is still assessed for value using faster methods: AVM, desktop valuation, or an existing RICS report. For you, the practical difference is no surveyor appointment to wait for, no access to arrange, and on AVM cases, no upfront valuation fee. The result — a loan offer against your property — is exactly the same.
An AVM (Automated Valuation Model) uses algorithms to cross-reference Land Registry sold prices, Rightmove comparables, EPC records, and market trend data to estimate property value instantly. In active markets with high transaction volumes — urban terraced and semi-detached housing, purpose-built flats — AVMs are typically within 5–10% of market value. In thin markets with few comparables, accuracy drops and the lender escalates to desktop or full inspection. The AVM returns a confidence score; lenders use this to decide whether AVM alone is sufficient.
A desktop valuation is a formal assessment conducted remotely by a RICS-qualified surveyor — without visiting the property. The surveyor uses Land Registry records, comparable sales evidence, aerial and street-level imagery, EPC data, and planning history to produce a written valuation report with a professional value opinion. Desktop valuations cost £250–£600 and take 48–72 hours — compared to £1,500–£3,000 and 7–21 days for a full physical inspection. The surveyor carries professional indemnity insurance, giving the report legal standing.
Standard residential properties in established locations with strong comparable evidence — houses, purpose-built flats, modern residential — are the best candidates. The property should be habitable and of standard construction. AVM is best for modern stock in active markets up to 65% LTV. Desktop extends to a wider range including older residential and recently refurbished properties up to 75% LTV. Properties requiring full inspection include HMOs, commercial, mixed-use, listed buildings, rural with thin comparables, derelict, uninhabitable, and non-standard construction.
AF Credit lends from £26,000 to £2,000,000 on no-val cases. Maximum LTV is 65% via AVM and up to 75% via desktop valuation. The gross loan (which includes rolled-up interest and arrangement fee) will be higher than the net amount received. Rates start from 0.79%/month across all valuation routes — no-val cases are not priced at a premium.
AVM cases can complete in 5–7 working days on a straightforward residential case with clean title. Desktop valuation adds 48–72 hours — making 7–10 working days typical. AF Credit issues same-day indicative terms and instructs legals within 12 hours of credit decision. The legal stage is the most variable element — the earlier your solicitor is instructed and the cleaner the title, the faster the process.
Yes — and it is one of the most valuable applications. Auction contracts require completion within 28 days. A physical valuation takes 7–21 days, consuming most or all of the available window. AVM (instant) or desktop (48–72 hours) removes this bottleneck entirely. AF Credit regularly completes auction-financed purchases using AVM or desktop valuation, comfortably inside the 28-day deadline on qualifying properties.
Yes, in many cases. If you have a RICS red book valuation completed within the last 3–6 months, AF Credit may be able to reassign it or rely on it rather than commissioning a new report. The surveyor must hold adequate PI insurance and the methodology must meet our requirements. We review the existing report at enquiry stage and confirm same day whether it is acceptable.
A drive-by valuation is where a RICS surveyor visits the property externally without gaining internal access — inspecting the building's condition, the street, and the location. It sits between desktop and full physical inspection. Typically costs £300–£800 and takes 2–5 days. Used where desktop data is insufficient to confirm external condition, but a full internal inspection is disproportionate given the LTV and loan size.
The maximum loan is calculated on the AVM figure. Options: accept the lower loan and bridge the gap from your own funds; request a desktop valuation which may return a higher figure if the AVM was underweighting recent comparables; or commission a full physical valuation if you have strong reason to believe the AVM is materially incorrect. We discuss the options transparently — we will not simply decline because the AVM is below what you expected.
Rarely. Commercial property value is driven by yield, covenant, and lease terms — variables that AVM and desktop methods cannot reliably capture. A full commercial valuation is almost always required on pure commercial assets. Semi-commercial property with a significant residential element may qualify for desktop valuation in limited circumstances. Speak to AF Credit about your specific asset.
Yes, on eligible leasehold flats. The lease must typically have at least 70 years remaining — ideally 85+ for AVM. Purpose-built leasehold flats in established blocks with strong comparables are common AVM candidates. Short leases (under 70 years), complex leasehold structures, onerous service charges, or missing lease documentation will typically escalate to a full physical inspection.
No. AF Credit rates start from the same 0.79%/month whether the valuation route is AVM, desktop, or full inspection. The overall cost of a no-val bridge is typically lower than standard bridging because the valuation itself costs far less — £0 on AVM, £250–£600 on desktop, versus £1,500–£3,000+ for a full physical inspection.
Yes, in certain circumstances. A property that has recently been refurbished and is now in habitable standard may qualify for desktop valuation at the post-works value without a physical inspection. AF Credit has completed multiple post-refurbishment rebridges on a desktop basis where building control had signed off works and comparable evidence clearly supported the value. Works in progress almost always require a full physical inspection.
A no-search indemnity is an insurance policy that replaces local authority, drainage, and environmental searches — which can take 2–4 weeks in some local authorities. The indemnity is issued in 24–48 hours. When combined with AVM or desktop valuation, it removes both the valuation delay and the search delay, dramatically compressing the overall timeline. AF Credit uses no-search indemnities regularly on straightforward residential transactions.
Yes. AF Credit lends to UK limited companies and SPVs. Directors typically provide personal guarantees. Company accounts, a statement of assets and liabilities, and proof of identity and address for directors are required. No-val eligibility is assessed on the property and LTV — the borrower entity type does not affect the valuation route.
Yes. AF Credit does not require prior bridging experience. First-time investors are assessed on the same basis as experienced borrowers — property type, LTV, and exit strategy. A clear exit and a qualifying property type are more important than bridging history. We explain the process clearly from the first call.
Yes — and rebridging is one of the strongest use cases for no-val. Where your existing bridge is expiring or the current lender is unwilling to extend, AF Credit can rebridge quickly using AVM or desktop valuation. We regularly complete developer exit rebridges on a desktop-only basis where refurbishment is complete and comparables are strong.
AF Credit does not charge an early repayment penalty (exit fee) on standard bridging facilities. You can repay at any time during the loan term without incurring a fee beyond the interest accrued to that point. If your exit completes ahead of schedule, you can redeem immediately with no lock-in period.
AF Credit lends on property in England and Wales only. We do not currently offer bridging loans — no-val or otherwise — on property in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
We will tell you clearly at enquiry stage — before any cost is incurred. If AVM is not possible, we assess desktop eligibility. If desktop is not possible, a full physical inspection is available, which unlocks up to 75% LTV across the full range of property types including HMO, commercial, listed buildings, and non-standard construction. Needing a full inspection does not mean we cannot lend — it means the valuation route changes.
AF Credit provides unregulated bridging loans only. If you are looking to borrow against your main residential home (your primary residence), the loan is likely to be regulated under FCA mortgage regulations. Regulated bridging loans are arranged through FCA-authorised brokers. AF Credit can refer you to an appropriate intermediary. If the security property is not your primary home — a buy-to-let, investment property, or second home — the loan may be unregulated and AF Credit can assist directly.
Automated Hometrack valuation on eligible residential property. Instant, no fee. Up to 65% LTV. Complete in 5–7 days.
View product → 75% LTV, no site visitRICS-qualified remote assessment. No physical surveyor visit. Up to 75% LTV. Valuation in 48–72 hours.
View product → Most popularChain breaks, auction, uninhabitable property, buy before you sell. Up to 75% LTV.
View product → 28-day deadlineAVM and desktop valuation options for auction purchases. Same-day indicative terms. Complete inside the 28-day deadline.
View product → Light and heavy refurbFund purchase and renovation. Light refurb on desktop valuation. Heavy refurb with full inspection and staged drawdowns.
View product →Tell us the property address, loan amount and exit route. We confirm no-val eligibility and issue indicative terms the same day — at no cost and with no commitment to proceed.
Subject to valuation, underwriting and legal due diligence. Terms are indicative and not a commitment to lend. Regulated bridging loans are not offered directly by AF Credit; where a case is regulated, AF Credit may refer the enquiry to an appropriately regulated intermediary.