What you need to know about Havering
Havering is principally suburban, with large areas of the borough in the Metropolitan Green Belt. Because of that, this part of the city has a lower population density compared with other boroughs in London as many areas are parkland with over a hundred separate green spaces. It is bordered to the west by Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, to the south by Bexley by the River Thames and to the north and east by Essex.
Named after the Royal Liberty of Havering, which occupied the area for centuries, the borough has Romford as its principal commercial hub, with a small district close to the railway station. Romford is also a major night time entertainment and retail centre, with many neighbouring shopping arcades and the largest market in the borough. In the south, London Riverside is part of a redevelopment plan in the zone of the Thames Gateway, with positive impact in areas such as Wennington, which will have the London Riverside Conservation Park, and Rainham.
The arrival of The Elizabeth Line to the stations at Romford, Harold Wood and Gidea Park is driving increased interest in this borough, with many people looking for affordable properties with good links to Central London. Hornchurch Country Park is a perfect spot for birdwatchers, while Havering Country Park is a favourite for those who enjoy hot-air ballooning. This part of the city has good air quality and is not inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Havering is very well connected to the city centre with a mix of London Underground, National Rail, London Overground and Crossrail services, while bus routes provide most of the orbital connections in the region. The borough is one of the safest in the city with a very low crime rate.
There are approximately 74 primary schools and 28 secondary schools in Havering, of which 17 are rated as outstanding by Ofsted. The main hospital in the borough is Queen’s Hospital.
New buyers are usually looking for houses for sale in Romford, Hornchurch and Upminster, whilst many people search for flats to rent in Rainham, Gidea Park and Harold Wood. There are 257,810 residents in Havering with 2.53 people per dwelling, according to the Housing in London 2019 report. The average private rent in this area is £1,100, according to the 2018/2019 Private Rental Market summary statistics, and the average house price is £359,854, according to the 2019 House Price Index from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). If you would like to rent a house in this borough, it is estimated that you will need a total annual income of £33,000, according to the rent affordability formula.
The growth in dwelling stock from 2008 to 2018 is 4.6%, with 14,230 affordable homes. Houses are 75% of total stock, according to the 2018 Valuation Office Agency report. Houses in this area are 39.9% owned outright, 33.77% owned with a mortgage or loan, 12.78% private rent and 13.55% social housing.