There are currently no London boroughs where bus drivers, cleaners and care workers can afford to rent, according to a new report from Generation Rent.
Among the key workers most affected are teaching staff. Currently, it costs more than the entire salary of a teaching assistant and almost half the salary of a primary or secondary school teacher to rent a median one-bedroom house in central London.
Campaign group Generation Rent has analyzed figures showing how key and essential workers in London are being forced out of the cities that depend on their labor.
“Just a few years ago, we were clapping on our doorsteps every week for key workers. Now they are at risk of being kicked out of the city by rising rents.”Generation Rent said Ben Toomey, the company’s chief executive officer.
“Everyone loses out when people with essential jobs can’t afford to live in the area.”
“For a community to survive, local people must be able to stay healthy, get an education, find safe housing, and buy basic goods. If people can’t afford to live in the area, everyone loses out.”
Generation Rent has called on the government to give the Mayor of London “powers to put the brakes on local rents and give key workers the breathing space they need”.
He also called on the government to prioritize the construction of more affordable social rental housing in the capital.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The report highlights that Mr Sadiq’s demand for rent is now more urgent than ever, alongside the end of section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions and investment in new homes. It highlights the rationale for the system of devolution of management,” he told Homes and Property.
“The Mayor continues to call on the Government to invest the £4.9bn we need each year.”
“The Mayor has repeatedly warned of the impact of not being able to pay private rent, and those hardest hit are the key workers the city relies on,” they added.
“The Mayor will continue to call on the Government to invest the £4.9 billion a year needed to build truly affordable homes, and urgently pass the Tenants (Reform) Bill, giving renters more leeway and paying less. We continue to call for devolution of control – for a better, fairer London for everyone.”
Generation Rent compared salaries for 15 key roles across education, healthcare, social care, construction, retail, commerce and hospitality.
Affordable housing is defined as housing that accounts for 30 percent or less of income, and is affordable for chefs, community workers, hairdressers, hospital porters, kitchen assistants, decorators, pharmacy assistants, receptionists, and salespeople. , affordable housing is unaffordable in every London borough.
Even in outer London boroughs traditionally considered to be cheaper, such as Croydon and Hillingdon, more than 40% of the salaries of higher-paid key workers will be levied.
Key workers increasingly have to travel elsewhere or commute long distances to work to earn a living.
The rental crisis is further exacerbated by a dwindling supply of private rental housing. Landlords have also passed on the costs of higher mortgage rates after the Bank of England raised its benchmark rate for the 14th time in a row to curb inflation.
Average rents in London have risen by 8.1% in the past year alone to £2,215, according to the latest Hamptons rental index.