First-time buyers
From deposit questions through to completion day: a clear plan, an agreement in principle, and someone to translate the jargon at every step.
Mortgage advice · Upminster
Fancy a Chat?
Tell Leanne what you are planning and she will call you back with the right options for your move.
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Leanne will call you back within one working day.
A little about me
Leanne Trotman
Mortgage and Protection Consultant
I live in Upminster and have spent 15 years with City Mortgage Solutions advising buyers and homeowners across Upminster, Cranham, Hornchurch, Emerson Park and the wider Havering area. I know the local property mix, from Upminster’s period semis to the newer developments near the station, and which lenders are comfortable with each.
I'm a big believer in protection. A mortgage is only ever half the picture, so every client gets the full package: life cover and income protection included as standard, not left as an afterthought.
Face-to-face locally, by phone or by video, evenings included, every recommendation comes with a plain-English reason why it's right for you.
CeMAP qualified
Whole of market
Protection specialist
Why Upminster homebuyers choose me
You don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s what local buyers and homeowners say about working with me.
★★★★★5.0 rating on Google Reviews
“Leanne has been helping us with our mortgage for a few years now. She is incredibly knowledgeable and goes above and beyond to help. We cannot recommend her enough.”
“Leanne Trotman at City Mortgages is absolutely fantastic. She's incredibly knowledgeable, and when I explained my situation gave me options I hadn't even considered. She explained everything clearly and diligently, and made the whole process feel simple and stress-free. Leanne was unbelievably quick to respond to queries and kept me updated every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend Leanne, she went above and beyond what I have expected and indeed ever experienced from mortgage advisor before.”
Areas we cover
Advice rooted in Upminster, covering Havering and the surrounding area
Select an area to see how Leanne helps buyers and owners there, in person locally, or by phone and video anywhere.
Our home town
Upminster
Home base. From the high street and station to the quieter roads toward Upminster Park, this is where Leanne lives and works, and where a lot of her clients buy.
How I can help
Whatever your situation, I can help
Whatever stage you're at, the process is the same: listen first, search the whole market, recommend in plain English, then manage it to completion.
Home movers
Porting, upsizing or relocating around Upminster and the surrounding towns, advice that times your mortgage around the chain, not the other way round.
Remortgaging
Your current deal ending isn't a deadline to panic about. Start six months out, lock a rate, and switch again if the market improves.
Buy-to-let
Portfolio or first rental, personal name or limited company, stress-test the numbers across specialist and mainstream lenders.
Self-employed & contractors
Umbrella company, PAYE contractor or company director, income that doesn't fit a standard payslip needs a lender who understands it. We know which ones do.
Protection & insurance
Life cover, critical illness and income protection, arranged alongside your mortgage so your home and family stay protected if life changes.
The full journey
From the first chat to your new front door, handled for you
Buying or remortgaging involves a lot of moving parts. The difference is, you won’t be chasing any of them. I handle the lender, solicitor, survey and paperwork and keep everyone moving, so there are no nasty surprises and no needless delays.
STEP 1
First conversation
We talk through your plans, budget and timescales. No cost, and no obligation to go ahead.
STEP 2
Decision in principle
I confirm what you can realistically borrow, so you can offer on the right home with confidence.
STEP 3
Solicitors & survey
I help get your solicitor instructed and the survey booked early, setting everything up so the rest of the process runs smoother, not stalled on paperwork later.
STEP 4
The right deal
I compare over 90 lenders and recommend the mortgage that fits your circumstances, not just the first one offered.
STEP 5
Protection in place
Life, critical illness and income cover arranged to match, so your home is safe if life changes.
STEP 6
Completion & beyond
Keys in hand, then a rate review before your deal ends to help you avoid slipping onto a higher rate.
Why use a broker
One bank shows you its shelf. A broker shows you the market.
Going direct to your own bank isn't wrong, but it only ever shows you one lender's view. In a commuter market like Upminster, where well-priced homes can go within days of listing, that matters even more. See what changes when Leanne is sitting on your side of the table.
With City Mortgage Solutions
Whole of market- Deals compared across 90+ lenders, including broker-only rates
- Lenders who understand contractor income, new-build service charges and non-standard cases
- Agreement in principle arranged before you offer, so you can move fast on the right home
- Application managed end-to-end: paperwork, chasing, solicitor liaison
- Protection reviewed alongside the mortgage, not as an afterthought
Going direct to one bank
- Only that bank's own products, however the market compares
- You self-select the lender before knowing if their criteria fit you
- No dedicated mortgage adviser on the high street to sit down with face to face
- Contractor, umbrella or self-employed income that often doesn't fit the standard online form
- Protection cover, if raised at all, is usually a separate conversation
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Local knowledge, whole-of-market reach
Why use a mortgage broker in Upminster?
Period semis close to Upminster station, newer flats built around the c2c and District line links, and family homes in Cranham and Corbets Tey each come with their own quirks that don't always fit a lender's standard checklist. When the right property appears in a market that moves this fast, the buyers who have arranged their finance first are the ones who secure it.
City Mortgage Solutions pairs that local picture with access to more than 90 lenders, so your recommendation comes from the whole market, not from one bank’s range.
Lenders compared
90+
Whole of market
Google rating
5.0
From local clients
Initial consultation
Free
Honest, jargon-free advice
Years with us
15
Mortgage & protection
Access to over 90 lenders, including
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Halifax
Nationwide
NatWest
Santander
HSBC
Barclays
Skipton
Accord
+ 80 more
Common questions
Mortgage questions, answered straight
You can go directly to a bank, but a whole-of-market broker compares deals from 90+ lenders rather than one, and manages the application end-to-end. In a fast-moving commuter market like Upminster, where well-priced homes near the station can go within days, having someone local who knows the area and answers the phone matters more, not less.
Your initial consultation is free and without obligation. Any fees that apply to your case are explained clearly and in writing before you commit to anything.
Most lenders offer between 4 and 4.5 times income, though affordability rules, deposit size and credit history all play a part. Leanne will give you an accurate borrowing figure and an agreement in principle so you're ready to offer.
Yes. Contractor, umbrella company and company director income is a regular part of our work, and different lenders treat it very differently. Knowing which lender suits your accounts is exactly where whole-of-market advice earns its keep.
Yes. There's a good mix of newer flats near the station alongside the area's more traditional semis and detached homes, and lenders treat lease length, ground rent and service charges differently. We check the details early so there are no surprises once you're under offer.
Around six months before your current deal ends. Offers are typically valid for six months, so starting early lets you lock a rate now and still switch if rates improve before completion.
Leanne is based in Upminster and meets clients face to face locally, or we can talk by phone and video call, including evenings.
Book your appointment
Ready when you are. Leanne will call you back.
Tell us when suits and Leanne will be in touch. Prefer to talk now? Call us on 020 7481 3736. Evening and video appointments are available.
Thanks, your request is in.
Leanne will call you back within one working day.