THIS could be the UK’s most popular home – on the market for £1,200 a month and it has so many viewings huge queues have formed outside.
The two-bedroom terraced house in Chadwell Heath, East London, had 162 viewings in just one week and attracted 52 offers, leaving the landlord spoilt for choice.
A huge queue of prospective tenants could be seen outside as they waited patiently in line to get a look around.
One hopeful, Adeel Hasnain, had come all the way from Harrow for a viewing and was stunned to see all the people gathered to do exactly the same thing.
He was so stunned he posted videos of the crowd on social media, writing: “Housing situation in #London is serious. One property and above 60 family viewing.”
Adeel told the Romford Recorder: “Nowadays it has been very difficult to get a suitable house at a price you can afford.
“I have been looking for more than a month but still haven’t made much progress.”
Adam Picton, the local lettings expert for the agency Purple Bricks, that set up the viewings said the location and the characteristics of the home were the main incentives for people.
He said: “First of all, the price compared to most two-bedroom houses near the station was somewhat generous.
“It’s pretty hard finding a property that ticks every single box, but when it’s within your budget, has a garden, has two double bedrooms, a driveway, is close to the station, is within school catchments, a decent sized kitchen and a shed for storage… most tenants would give an arm and a leg for all that.”
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According to the online listing, the newly-refurbished property is just a five-minute walk to the nearest train station and is double glazed with central heating.
Local amenities, including supermarkets, banks, restaurants and pubs are just a short distance away.
The house eventually went for a price that was £150 above its original asking rate, according to the paper, with some tenants reportedly offering to pay even more.
Analysis recently said that two postcodes in Havering, RM5 and RM7, were among the hottest property areas in the market currently.
Experts say that people who cannot afford to live in inner London due to the cost of living crisis are moving to the outer boroughs, increasing the demand for houses in those areas.
Matt Thompson, head of sales at estate agency Chestertons said: “What’s further driving demand for these areas are ongoing infrastructural investments such as the Elizabeth Line which has vastly extended the search radius for some house hunters.”