Walk Barking from Barking Abbey ruins and the Curfew Tower outwards and the mainly Victorian pattern is obvious: 45% of the 14,541 households in IG11 live in flats, 55% in houses.
Private renting sits at 31% and owner-occupation at 45%; the first group books carpet fitting at short notice, the second plans it.
Barking substrates run to some of it dry-lined during a later refurbishment — and solid London stock brick — the reality on the streets around Barking Abbey ruins and the Curfew Tower. Nothing is drilled until the wall has been sounded, because in IG11, fixings landing in soft lime mortar joints instead of the brick body — which is why London Borough of Barking and Dagenham kerb rules get settled before the van is loaded is the mistake that costs a IG11 customer twice.
Two streets can behave very differently in Barking: town square, abbey ruins and a riverside district growing at Barking Riverside. The quote reflects the street the job is actually on. Barking is outside the Congestion Charge zone but inside ULEZ; our vehicles are compliant, so nothing is added for it.
On access, town-centre one-way loop with timed loading; riverside blocks need booked lifts — one reason one fitter for a room or a straight flight; two for large open-plan floors, winder staircases and anything carried up above the third floor without a lift. Fitters travelling in use Barking (District, Hammersmith & City, c2c).
