UK Survey Ranks East London ‘Borough’ As Nation’s Unhappiest
December 23, 2025
1:30 pm
Rightmove index puts Barking and Dagenham last as residents cite crime, shop closures and neglect, while council points to regeneration and investment.
Barking and Dagenham, an East London borough long shaped by industrial decline and rapid population change, has been ranked the unhappiest place to live in the United Kingdom, according to a new nationwide survey by property website Rightmove.
The Borough finished last among 220 locations in Rightmove’s 2025 “Happy at Home Index,” which measures how residents feel about their local areas. The annual survey assesses 15 factors, including community spirit, safety, access to green spaces, and the availability
