If you’re a Brent resident who is feeling miserable today, and not because of the Tube strike, don’t be surprised.
According to the findings of a survey released today by property group Rightmove, Brent is the third most unhappiest borough in London.
The annual poll asked more than 2,700 Londoners to rank a number of factors both in their home and in their local community, resulting in Brent shamefully coming third from the bottom.
The factors marked were décor, space, value, pride, costs, safety, amenities, recreation, community, contentment, neighbourliness and area contentment.
However, residents can smile because they don’t live in Barking and Dagenham which came last or Hounslow which was dubbed the second most unhappiest in the city.
Meanwhile residents in Richmond have a reason to skip to work every day as they have been deemed the happiest in the city.
Miles Shipside, Rightmove’s housing expert, said: “How people define happiness obviously varies which is why we’ve come up with a number of factors both inside the home and in the community, to reveal the most contented places.
“It’s often the case that Londoners have to compromise on location when they’re first trying to get on the property ladder so perhaps that’s why they’re not as content as others round the country.”
Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, has dismissed the findings calling it ‘counterproductive to the work going on the borough’.
He added: “I find it unbelievable that they have got this result. “Everyone I meet is positive about what is going on in Brent and there is lots of regeneration projects that are improving people’s lives and aspirations.
“We are helping to improve housing and we are the only borough to have won two housing zone bids from the Mayor of London which means we will be given almost £30million to build new homes.
“If the borough was that bad and things weren’t improving no one would be investing in Brent.”
Cllr James Denselow, Brent Council’s lead member for stronger communities, added: “This is very dubious methodology used by a firm who are looking to get headlines.
“Brent is the second most diverse borough in the UK so we have lots of communities living happily together.
“Speaking as someone who was born and raised in Brent I wouldn’t choose anywhere else to live.”
What do you think are the best or the worst things about Brent?
Tweet your opinion to @bktimes using the hashtag #ProudofBrent.
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