Dagenham home listed for £500,000 dubbed 'worst house in Britain' draws market and design scrutiny

A three-bedroom detached home in Dagenham, east London, is on the market for £500,000 and has sparked a debate about taste, value and planning. Locals have dubbed the property the 'worst house in Britain,' drawing comparisons to the Bibby Stockholm migrant barge that drew national attention earlier this year as a temporary housing solution for asylum seekers. The house sits among rows of 1940s and 1950s terraced homes and is listed on Rightmove for £500,000, well above the area's current average price of about £360,000 to £385,000.

The estate agent listing describes the property as beautifully presented, but residents and online reviewers disagree. Robin Hague, who lives in the next street, described it as 'hideous' and compared it to the Bibby Stockholm barge. 'Who were the architects - Lidl? I’m surprised there’s not a load of trollies all locked together outside,' he said, capturing the intensity of local sentiment as the property rose above the average price for the area. An aerial view highlighting the building’s slim footprint and its surrounding patio underscored the contrast with the neighboring terraces.

Others joined the online chorus of opinions. A painter and decorator working in the area described the home as 'dreadful' and questioned the planning decision. 'I wouldn’t even know where to start. It looks like the Bibby Stockholm. It’s dreadful. It’s the worst house in Britain. Was the planner on drugs when he designed it? It just is totally out of place in this area. I thought it was going to be offices when it first went up. Then when I realised someone would be living in there I thought it was bizarre. It’s like a school classroom from the 1980s on top of a garage. It just makes no sense. I wouldn’t pay £50,000 to live there, never mind £500,000,' the painter said.

Martin Reid, 55, offered a more tempered take. 'Breath of fresh air,' he said, acknowledging the design stands out. 'At least it’s something different. I wouldn’t live there though. It’s only when you properly look that you realise how different it is.' Jenny Weston, 49, was equally blunt, calling the home 'horrible' and noting it stands out amid the uniform streetscape. 'That looks poor. It’s like a giant porter cabin on top of a storage depot. I’d hate to live there,' she added as others described the exterior in similar terms.

Alex Summers, 32, told reporters the design was 'grotesque,' while a shop assistant in the area suggested that knocking it down and starting again might be preferable. 'You’d be better knocking it down and starting again. I think it’s dreadful,' Summers said. By contrast, Aviel Murphy, a 19-year-old student, offered an unexpected perspective: he would 'love' to live there if he could afford it, noting that its contrast with the surrounding homes makes it stand out in a positive way for some buyers.

The homeowner, who asked not to be named, defended the property as spacious and very different from surrounding homes. The owner said online comments mischaracterized the home and emphasized that personal taste is subjective. 'This is not some sort of weird conversion,' one commenter said, but the owner emphasized the space and individuality of the property.

The home includes off-street parking and a garage, features highlighted by the listing and visible in local photos. The structure’s unusual silhouette, described by critics as a 'garage with a shipping container on top,' has become a talking point among potential buyers and market observers as the listing proceeds through the fast-moving southeast London market.

The reaction to the Dagenham property illustrates how a single, striking design can influence homebuying sentiment even when the price sits above local norms. At £500,000, the listing exceeds the area average by a comfortable margin, raising questions about how buyers weigh architectural novelty against traditional street aesthetics in London’s diverse housing market. Real estate agents note that design risk can affect time on market and buyer pools, even when a home is competitively priced relative to nearby equivalents.

Observers say the case underscores how market signals can diverge from visual reception. While some buyers prize individuality and distinctive architecture, others prioritize a cohesive streetscape and proven track records of resale value. The Rightmove listing on this Dagenham property has drawn attention from potential buyers who are exploring whether the increased price aligns with perceived value, given the exterior’s polarizing reception.

The controversy has not displaced the broader market dynamics in the capital, where demand remains robust for well-located properties, yet price sensitivity persists for homes with unconventional designs. For some buyers, the home’s bold silhouette is a differentiator worth the premium; for others, it is a deterrent that could translate into longer marketing times if interest wanes.

As the listing remains active, market watchers will be watching for buyer feedback and any early indications of price discipline or demand shifts tied to this property’s notoriety. The discussion extends beyond Dagenham to a wider conversation about how architectural experimentation is perceived in mature suburban markets and what buyers are willing to pay for novelty versus conventional design. If the market proves forgiving, the property could leverage its attention and demand to achieve a sale near or above its £500,000 asking price; if not, it could illustrate a cautionary tale about over-indexing on notoriety rather than value.