Government figures show 336,366 households were on the London local authority waiting lists in 2024.
The statistic is the highest figure to be reported in over a decade – the previous record was set in 2013 when it was discovered 344,294 households were on council wait lists.
Housing in London isn’t, by any means, a new issue however boroughs have said the latest research captures the ‘spiralling pressures’ councils are facing.
Against this backdrop, the government data also shows London is the region with the largest number of households waiting for social housing – accounting for 25% of England’s national total.
‘The growing number of Londoners stuck on waiting lists for social housing is the latest evidence of spiralling pressures in the capital,’ Cllr Grace Williams, Executive Member for housing & Regeneration at London Councils said. ‘London is grappling with the most severe housing and homelessness crisis in the country. The capital is becoming increasingly unaffordable and, as these numbers demonstrate, there is a desperate need for more social housing.’
‘Boroughs are doing everything we can to build the affordable homes our communities are crying out for. However, we are also struggling with enormous resource constraints and immense challenges to housing delivery in London,’ Cllr Williams continued.
To give context, London Councils have published separate research which outlines more than 185,000 Londoners – equivalent to at least one in 50 residents – are homeless and living in temporary accommodation.
What’s more, the analysis estimates boroughs across the capital have collectively spent £4million every day on temporary accommodation – an increase of 68% over the past year.
To better the situation, the cross-party group is calling on the government to provide more support. This includes setting future social rent levels that sustain boroughs’ social housing budgets and enable more investment in new social homes.
The group are also calling on authorities to axe the cap on Local Housing Allowance payable for temporary accommodation in Housing Benefit subsidy. This is the amount of money councils can claim from the government for their temporary accommodation costs and was originally introduced in January 2011.
Cllr Williams added: ‘Boroughs are determined to turn the situation around. We are strongly pro-housing growth and as committed as ever to working with the government to turbocharge housebuilding in the capital. We are also working to ensure we have the resources needed to cope with the immediate homelessness pressures we are facing.’
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