The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has welcomed the latest record-breaking GLA housing statistics, showing he is on track to deliver his 2019/20 housing target of starting 17,000 new genuinely affordable homes.
Between March and December 2019, 12,546 genuinely affordable homes were started in London thanks to policies the Mayor put in place. This is 74 per cent of his annual target, an improvement on the 42 per cent that had been started by this stage of 2018/19 (the Mayor still went on to exceed his target last year, starting 14,544 genuinely affordable homes compared to his target of 14,000).
Sadiq’s target of starting 17,000 genuinely affordable homes by the end of this financial year is more than the previous Mayor delivered in the last two years of his tenure combined*.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “Delivering the genuinely affordable homes that Londoners so desperately need has been one of my top priorities over the last four years. Therefore, I’m delighted that today’s stats show we’re firmly on track to deliver our ambitious target of starting 17,000 genuinely affordable homes this year.”
“Social housing plays a vital role in binding our city together and I’m proud that councils across London have bought into my vision and helped us deliver more genuinely affordable homes for Londoners than at any time since City Hall took responsibility for social housing.
“We can’t solve the housing crisis overnight, but this shows what we can do when Londoners work together. Now it is time for the Government to recognise what we have achieved, step up and give us the support and funds to keep building the homes London urgently needs.”
Notes to editors
* 2015/16 = 7,189 starts, 2016/17 = 9,586 starts
- Of the 12,546 genuinely affordable homes started in London between March and December 2019, 41% (5,126) are for social rent and around 20% (2,437) are council homes.
- The Mayor’s definition of “genuinely affordable homes” includes:
- homes based on social rent levels for Londoners on low incomes, including London Affordable Rent and council homes
- London Living Rent, homes aimed at average‑income Londoners with discounted rents pegged to incomes, enabling them to save for a deposit;
- London Shared Ownership, homes which allow Londoners who would otherwise struggle to buy to purchase a share in a new home and pay rent on the remaining share.