Romford Property & Architecture: Buyer, Landlord & Tenant Guide

Are you looking for a property in Romford and want to know the sorts of homes you’ll find there?

Our guide helps you understand the kinds of properties that Romford has to offer, and some of the unique areas and features you’ll find there.

Romford’s housing stock is one of the most varied in outer east London. Victorian terraces sit alongside 1930s semis, estates built between the 1940s and 1960s, and a growing number of new-build flatted schemes, all within a few streets of each other. That mix attracts a wide range of buyers: first-time buyers drawn by relative affordability compared to inner London, families upsizing into larger Edwardian and inter-war semis, and investors targeting rental yields that remain competitive across the RM postcode area.

What distinguishes Romford from its neighbours is scale and range. The town centre postcodes offer some of the most affordable entry points in the outer London market, while the outer sectors, particularly RM14, carry average prices closer to £600,000, reflecting a very different character of housing. Understanding which part of Romford you’re buying into matters as much as the town name itself.

Types of Property in Romford

• Victorian terraces are concentrated in the streets closest to Romford town centre, particularly in the RM1 postcode. These are typically two-storey, two- or three-bedroom properties on tight plots with small rear yards. They form the backbone of Romford’s first-time buyer market.
• Edwardian and inter-war semis dominate the residential streets spreading outward from the centre – through RM2, RM5, and RM6, and represent the largest share of family purchases. These properties tend to have more generous plots, with rear gardens long enough to extend into, and driveways that have been added over time.
• Post-war housing is widely present across the Romford postcodes, ranging from council-built terraces and maisonettes to privately developed estates from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Build quality varies considerably across this stock.
• Purpose-built and new-build flats are concentrated in and around the town centre, particularly along the main arterial routes. These account for a significant share of the leasehold market and are the primary option for buyers in the sub-£300,000 range.

Conservation Areas & Listed Buildings

Romford sits within the London Borough of Havering. The borough contains a number of conservation areas and listed buildings, though Romford town centre itself has seen substantial post-war and more recent redevelopment that has altered much of its historic fabric.

St Edward the Confessor Church on Market Place is a Grade II listed building and one of Romford’s most recognisable historic structures, with origins dating to the sixteenth century. The church and its immediate setting are subject to listed building consent requirements for any works affecting the structure or its character.

Havering’s conservation areas relevant to the Romford area include designations covering parts of the older residential streets where Victorian and Edwardian character has been better preserved. Within any designated conservation area, permitted development rights are restricted: owners typically require conservation area consent for demolition, and planning permission for changes to rooflines, front elevations, and boundary treatments that would otherwise be permitted development. Havering Council’s planning portal holds the definitive boundary maps and appraisal documents for each designation.

Buyers specifically seeking conservation area protection should verify the designation status of any individual property before proceeding, as boundaries can be precise and a street can straddle the edge of a designated area.

Historic Features in and Around Romford

This video points out some of the key, historical features that you can find in and around the Romford area – worth knowing if you are looking for character property with a bit of history.

Period Property Characteristics

Victorian (1870s–1900s)

• Two-storey brick construction, typically London stock brick
• Sliding sash windows, often replaced in uPVC on unmodified examples
• Slate or plain clay tile roofs
• Chimney stacks to front and rear elevations
• Ceiling heights of around 2.5–2.7m on ground floor
• Narrow frontages with small front forecourts, many converted to hardstanding

Romford’s Victorian terraces are densely arranged, and the majority have had some degree of modification over the decades. Original sash windows and timber front doors are less common than in better-preserved inner London stock; buyers should look carefully at what remains original and what has been replaced.

Edwardian (1900–1918)

• Wider frontages than Victorian predecessors, with more generous bay windows
• Red brick or render, often with decorative tile hanging or pebbledash
• Larger rear gardens, typically 10–15 metres in length
• Loft space suitable for conversion in most examples
• Some retention of original stained glass in entrance doors and fanlights

Edwardian semis in Romford are typically well-suited to extension – rear kitchen extensions and loft conversions are common, and many have already been carried out. Buyers should check the quality of any previous works carefully.

Inter-war (1920s–1930s)

• Pebbledash render or red brick, frequently with mock-Tudor detailing
• Herringbone brick or tile porches
• Larger plots than Edwardian equivalents in many cases
• Metal Crittall windows in some examples, though widespread replacement has occurred
• Attached or detached garages on larger plots in the outer sectors

The inter-war semis spreading through RM2, RM3, and RM5 represent Romford’s most sought-after family housing. Plots are generous, extensions are well-established, and the street patterns are open enough to retain a sense of space.

Want to find out more? Take a look at what it’s like living in Romford and discover some of the best streets in Romford.

Post-war (1945–1970s)

• Concrete panel, cavity brick, or timber-frame construction depending on build era
• Flat or shallow-pitch roofs on some maisonette blocks
• Smaller room sizes than earlier periods
• Aluminium or uPVC windows standard throughout

Post-war stock in Romford is mixed in quality. Some estates have been well maintained; others have seen deferred maintenance accumulate. Non-traditional construction methods are present across this era and affect mortgage lender appetite – so buyers should confirm construction type early in the process.

Want to find out more? Take a look at Romford’s best streets and find out what it’s like living in Romford.

Recent Developments & New Builds in Romford

Romford town centre is subject to significant planned transformation. In March 2025, Havering London Borough Council adopted the Romford Masterplan, which sets out the planning policy framework for the town centre’s regeneration. The Masterplan is intended to shape new residential, commercial, and mixed-use development across the centre over the coming years.

Several apartment schemes have already completed or are under construction in and around the town centre, adding leasehold apartments to the RM1 market. These are largely aimed at first-time buyers and investors, and their growing presence means the supply of new-build flats in central Romford is higher than it was five years ago.

Buyers considering new-build purchases in the town centre should review the Masterplan carefully, as it will influence what is built on neighbouring sites and how the immediate area evolves.

Gardens & Outside Space in Romford

Outside space provision varies significantly by property type and location. Victorian terraces in RM1 tend to have small rear yards, which are often paved over, and front forecourts that have been converted to hardstanding. Off-street parking on Victorian streets is limited.

• Edwardian and inter-war semis offer considerably more: rear gardens of 10 metres or more are typical, and many have side areas that have been incorporated into ground-floor extensions. Driveways are common on inter-war properties, and garages – detached or integrated – appear on larger plots in the outer sectors.
• Post-war houses and estates vary. Some have generous rear gardens; others, particularly maisonettes, have only shared or communal outdoor space.
• Purpose-built and new-build flats generally have no private garden. Communal amenity space is present on some newer schemes but is not universal. Buyers relying on outdoor space should treat flat purchases in Romford’s town centre with realistic expectations.

Buying in Romford? Here’s What to Check

Romford’s period housing stock carries a range of survey considerations that buyers should understand before making an offer. The mix of solid-wall Victorian construction, inter-war render, and varied post-war build methods means the issues differ property to property.

1. Damp in solid-wall Victorian properties: Solid brick construction has no cavity and relies on wall thickness alone. Rising damp and penetrating damp are both common where original lime mortar has been replaced with modern cement, which traps moisture rather than allowing it to breathe.
2. Flat roof extensions: Many Romford properties have had rear extensions added over the decades, often with flat felt roofs. These have a limited lifespan and should be inspected for condition and waterproofing integrity.
3. Chimney condition: Original chimney stacks on Victorian and Edwardian properties require periodic repointing. Blocked or poorly lined flues are a fire risk and can cause damp penetration at roof level.
4. Older electrical systems: Properties that have not been rewired in the past twenty to thirty years may retain older consumer units and wiring that does not meet current standards. An electrical installation condition report is advisable.
5. Non-traditional construction: Post-war properties built using concrete panel or other non-standard methods may be difficult to mortgage with some lenders. Confirm construction type with your solicitor before exchange.
6. Subsidence risk: Parts of the Romford area sit on London Clay, which is susceptible to shrinkage in dry summers. Look for diagonal cracking at window and door openings, and check whether previous subsidence claims have been made.
7. Loft conversions and rear extensions: Where works have been carried out without building regulations approval or planning permission, this can cause complications on resale. Your solicitor should request evidence of approvals.

A RICS HomeBuyer Report is the minimum for most Romford period properties; a full Building Survey is advisable for Victorian terraces, properties with obvious modifications, or any home where non-standard construction is suspected. RICS provides guidance on choosing the right level of survey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for a Home in Romford? We Can Help

Romford’s range of property types means that there are many options to meet different lifestyle priorities. If you’re weighing up a purchase or want to understand how your property’s period and condition affect its position in the current market, get in touch with our team at Sandra Davidson, as can advise on both. You can also browse properties for sale in Romford to see what’s currently available across the area.