Addiscombe Road, Croydon Pic: MJobling

Croydon and east London have been voted the two worst areas to live in the UK, according to a survey released yesterday.

The figures show that, out of the 110 places reviewed by residents across the nation, Croydon came 109^th in the league, followed by east London at 110^th. The study was conducted by Right Move estate agents and included the views of almost 40,000 Brits.

Residents were asked to rate their area on twelve factors, including ‘space’, ‘costs’ and ‘value’.

The report by homes website Rightmove showed that east London came at the bottom of the table for four of them: ‘space’, ‘contentment’, ‘investment’ and ‘safety’. Croydon scored lowest on two factors: ‘neighbourliness’ and ‘recreation’.

Maureen Levy, spokesperson for the East Coulsdon residents’ association, told Eastlondonlines that the survey highlights issues with the borough’s leisure facilities.

“Considering that Croydon the biggest population in the area, we have very little leisure space,” she said, but added: “Though I don’t think we’re any more unneighbourly than other places in the country.”

Others have criticised the report for being unrepresentative, only canvassing homeowners who – in more deprived areas such as east London and Croydon, where rental levels are high – will be proportionately lower than in other parts of the country, “skewing” the results.

East-central London, south-east London, north-west London, west London, north London, Enfield and Ilford were all included in the bottom ten desirable places in the UK, with Harrogate and Stockport topping the list.