Havering Branded One of the ‘Gloomiest’ Places to Live in Britain, Rightmove Survey Reveals

Havering residents have made their feelings loud and clear in a national Rightmove survey that has ranked the borough as one of the gloomiest places to live in the entire UK. The annual “Happy at Home” index placed Havering 218th out of 220, leaving it languishing near the bottom of the national list.

Only Barking and Dagenham and Newham scored worse, meaning three East London boroughs now fill the bottom end of the table for resident happiness. Barking and Dagenham was officially crowned the “unhappiest” place to live in Britain.

Many locals saying the ranking doesn’t just feel harsh it feels like a wake-up call. The index measures how residents feel about their community, safety, local services, green spaces and overall quality of life. On almost every measure, Havering residents reported a steep decline.

Locals point to rising crime, shrinking public services, poor transport links, and ongoing battles with development and congestion as major reasons behind the gloom. Others say the borough has been left behind while neighbouring areas receive investment, leaving residents feeling ignored and fed up.

The survey has also reignited debates about how much support Havering receives from City Hall and central government. Community groups say the borough is crying out for help, while residents warn things will only get worse unless serious investment is made.

Despite the grim ranking, many in Havering insist the borough still has huge potential — but say it needs stronger leadership, better policing, more youth services, and real investment to restore pride and positivity.

Rightmove’s results may sting, but for many residents, they simply confirm what they’ve been saying for years: Havering deserves better, and it’s time their voices were taken seriously.

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