The COVID-19 crisis has shown us that now, more than ever, all Londoners need access to good quality housing that they can afford.
Update: In June, the Mayor of London provided a formal written response to the Panel’s priorities. This can be read in full in a letter to the Chair of the London Housing Panel.
The London Housing Panel calls on the Mayor to commit to three actions:
Even before the pandemic, the unaffordability of housing in London was one of the city’s biggest challenges:
- The number of children that are homeless and in temporary accommodation is at its highest since 2006.
- Inadequate housing is putting people’s health at risk and damaging people’s lives.
- Without more socially rented homes, the number of people experiencing inadequate housing & homelessness will continue to spiral.
“Currently thousands of Londoners are living in conditions that none of us would deem acceptable; and public land is being sold off for private development when it could be used for desperately needed social rented homes. The COVID-19 crisis has shown us that now, more than ever, all Londoners need access to good quality housing the can afford. A problem this big needs ambitious Mayoral commitment to beat it.”
Raji Hunjan, Chair of the London Housing Panel
This is a solvable problem but we need to act now – together, London’s politicians, civil society and communities can work with house builders and planners to tackle the housing crisis in the short and long-term.
07 April 2020