Hannah Aldridge New Policy Institute Housing and Poverty in London

London’s Poverty Profile Uses official data to monitor poverty trends in London Funded by Trust for London, printed publication available, data online: Poverty defined as: less than 60% of median income, after housing costs

London’s long-term poverty trends Number of people in poverty in London has risen from 1.9m to 2.2m over the last decade, mainly due to population growth but underneath that poverty has transformed

London’s long-term poverty trends Typical Londoner in poverty now: in working family, in private rented accommodation, in Outer London

Tenure in London Inner London has largest private rented sector but is distinct for size of social rent stock

The rise poverty in the PRS Its not just working age adults – children are at the sharp end of London’s housing crisis

Adequacy of PRS housing Poor quality  30% of PRS non-decent (15% of SRS) Insecure  Two thirds of private renters have lived in their current home less than three years (the social rent average is 11 years) Expensive  Average weekly private rent £1,600pm; for social rent its £500pm  needs don’t match means – and children lose out

Role of Housing benefit 75% are in work, up from 50% in 2011; (compares to 55% in Rest of England) HB increasingly a an in-work family benefit in London

Local housing allowance claimants with children Highest levels aren’t in Inner London Numerous clusters across Outer London

Issues for London  PRS is dominant market but unfit for purpose  Housing benefit is increasing importance as in- work benefit  Need for affordable housing product that is:  Affordable for families with children  Doesn’t require savings to access  Is financially sustainable or acts as a transition tenure to something that is  Preventative? ‘generation rent’