Housing and Homelessness

The very close relationship between child poverty rates and housing costs in London is undeniable. Housing costs in London are sky high and continue to rise; in the private rented sector the average rent is now £1,957 per month, or 41.6% of private-renter household income (ONS, August 2025). This has a very significant impact on the city’s child poverty rates - before housing costs 16% of children live in poverty and this jumps to 31% after housing costs are accounted for which is a much greater differential than in any other region (HBAI, 2026).

More important than this statistical effect is the impact that these costs have on children’s lives and the reality is that all too often it means homelessness. A record 102, 000 children are now living, many of them for periods of many months, if not years, in temporary accommodation (London Councils, 2025), which results in denial of their human rights, to a safe and secure home, food and education. 

4in10 member organisations who have helped develop these calls to action include Camden Federation of Private Tenants, Cardinal Hume Centre, Renters’ Rights London, Z2K, The Magpie Project and Shelter.