Walk Romford from Romford Market outwards and the mainly Victorian pattern is obvious: 32% of the 18,759 households in RM1 live in flats, 68% in houses.
Private renting sits at 23% and owner-occupation at 66%; the first group books all hanging and mounting services at short notice, the second plans it.
Walls are solid London stock brick in RM1, some of it dry-lined during a later refurbishment — the reality on the streets around Romford Market, so the fixing that matters in Romford is chosen on site — the usual failure here is in RM1, fixings landing in soft lime mortar joints instead of the brick body — measured on the walk in from Romford (Elizabeth line) rather than assumed from a map.
Two streets can behave very differently in Romford: market town turned regional centre — the market, the Brewery and a growing skyline. The quote reflects the street the job is actually on. Romford is outside the Congestion Charge zone but inside ULEZ; our vehicles are compliant, so nothing is added for it.
Getting to the door matters as much as the job: ring-road one-way system, market-day closures and booked lifts in the new blocks. Romford (Elizabeth line) is the nearest station, and one fitter for a typical multi-item visit; two where anything crosses 30kg or has to be carried up a shared stairwell.