One in four London children are living in overcrowded homes[1], yet just 8% of affordable homes funded by the Mayor between 2011 and 2014 have four bedrooms or more.[2] The 2013 London Strategic Housing Market Assessment identified that 18% of affordable housing in London needs to have four bedrooms or more,[3] which is more than twice the proportion that the Mayor’s housing programmes funded. The London Assembly Housing Committee today heard that targets for larger family-sized affordable homes are not being set by the Mayor. Darren Johnson AM, Chair of the Housing Committee, said: “London has a severe overcrowding problem, with 391,000 children living in overcrowded conditions. Today’s figures show that not enough is being done by the Mayor to build larger, family-sized affordable homes in London. “We will follow this up with the Mayor and call for more regular publication of affordable housing data, so we can keep close tabs on the types of homes the Mayor is funding.” Notes for editors:
Between April 2011 and March 2014, 2,425 GLA funded affordable homes built had four or more bedrooms out of a total of 31,242 homes (figures exclude bedsits).
The 2013 London Strategic Housing Market Assessment, page 87 (affordable housing includes both intermediate and social rent housing).
Darren Johnson AM, Chair of the Housing Committee is available for interview – see contact details below.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Lisa Lam in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, on 020 7983 4100.