Havering is London’s most easterly borough, and for a lot of people who work in the City or Canary Wharf it is where the numbers finally start to work. Here is a commuter’s guide to living in Romford and the towns around it, from which line to live near to what to sort out before you buy.

Quick answer: is Havering good for commuting into London?

Yes, if you live near the right station. Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood are on the Elizabeth line, which runs through Stratford and Liverpool Street and across central London. Hornchurch, Elm Park and Upminster are on the District line, and Upminster also has c2c trains to Fenchurch Street.

Which stations should you live near?

Havering effectively has two commuter corridors, and which one suits you depends on where you work.

The Elizabeth line corridor runs through Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood. Trains go straight through Stratford, Whitechapel and Liverpool Street and on to Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road and the West End, so if you work anywhere along that route you won’t need to change. Canary Wharf is one change away at Whitechapel. The TfL website has the route map and service updates.

The District line corridor runs through Upminster, Upminster Bridge, Hornchurch and Elm Park. It is slower into the centre, but trains start at Upminster, so you can usually get a seat in the morning. Upminster also has c2c trains, which are quicker into Fenchurch Street for anyone working near the Tower or in the insurance district.

A short shuttle line links Romford and Upminster through Emerson Park, which helps if you live between the two.

What are the main areas like?

Romford

is the borough’s big town, with a large shopping centre, a market and plenty of new-build flats near the station. It suits buyers who want to walk to the train and don’t mind a busy centre.

Gidea Park

is quieter, with wide roads and a lot of 1930s family houses close to the station and Raphael Park. It is often where Romford buyers move once they need more space.

Hornchurch

has a village-style high street, good access to the District line and a mix of terraces and semis. Elm Park, one stop closer to London, tends to be a little cheaper.

Upminster

sits at the end of the line, with larger homes, a well-known windmill and that end-of-the-line seat advantage.

Harold Wood

is on the Elizabeth line at the very edge of the borough, near the M25, with more space for the money.

What does a commuter need to think about before buying?

Do the journey for real. Walk from the street you are looking at to the platform at 7.30 on a weekday and see how long it takes and how full the trains are. Then price up your season ticket for the zone, because Havering stations are in Zone 6 and that cost sits alongside your mortgage every month.

Think about how often you will actually travel in. If you work in the office two or three days a week, a slightly longer commute may be worth a bigger home, and a flexi or pay-as-you-go fare could cost less than an annual ticket.

How do you line up the mortgage?

Before you start viewing, get a mortgage agreement in principle so you know roughly what you can borrow and estate agents take you seriously. Lenders will look at your income, your monthly outgoings, your deposit and your credit history. Travel costs count as part of your spending, so a big season ticket can nudge the figure down slightly with some lenders.

If you are a first-time buyer, you pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000 of the price in England, and 5% on the part up to £500,000. A lot of Havering flats sit under that first line, and plenty of houses sit between the two.

Speaking to someone who knows the area helps. A Little Mortgage Advice offers mortgage advice in Romford and Havering to first-time buyers and movers, including people whose credit file isn’t perfect, and can tell you which lenders suit your situation before you make an offer.

Is Havering right for you?

If you want more space, a proper high street and a direct line into town, it is worth a weekend of exploring. Pick two stations, one on each corridor, walk the streets around them and try the commute. You will know quickly which side of the borough fits your week.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

A Little Mortgage Advice is a mortgage broker based in South Benfleet, Essex, helping first-time buyers and people with a poor credit history across Essex and east London. A Little Mortgage Advice (FCA reference 1006474) is an appointed representative of The Right Mortgage Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.