Affordable housing on London is no the decline, according to recent data.
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00:00London's biggest housing associations are sounding the alarm over a sharp fall in the number of new affordable homes being built.
00:09The G15 group says there's been a 66% drop in new housing over the past two years, a decline they're calling deeply concerning.
00:18In their latest report, the G15 urged swift action, warning that the capital is facing a worsening housing crisis.
00:26According to their figures, just 4,700 new homes were started in 24 to 25, compared to under 14,000 two years earlier.
00:36The trend continued this year with a 7% drop in new build that started January and March, compared to the same period in 2023.
00:45The group also pointed out that completions are down too. 9,200 homes were handed over in 24 to 25, down from over 10,000 the year before.
00:58But what the Londoners think of the housing situation in the capital, especially when it comes to affordable homes?
01:06It doesn't surprise me, no, with the governments that we've had over the last few decades. It's only going one way, I think.
01:14I think housing in London is desperate and terrible. I think it has been. I bought a brand new flat after living in a grade one listed building, and it's been riddled with cladding.
01:26There's been huge service charge issues. I don't know about anybody, even if you're buying from a housing association now, you are riddled with these sovereign wealth funds that are just fleecing you with service charges, ground rents. It's just a gravy train for them.
01:41It doesn't surprise me. I live on an estate with over 90 properties empty. One of them's been empty for seven years. So, yeah, it's been a shock to me.
01:49And when I drive around London on a bus driver and I see how many empty properties there is, and there's quite a few, I think it's out of order, to be honest with you.
01:58It's out of control. I mean, if you are trying to rent, it's good luck. It's impossible. Rent prices are through the roof. Everything's going up. Utilities are going up.
02:11You know, food's going up. Everything's going up. Nothing's coming down. You know, there's real-time increases in wages, they say, to balance that out.
02:24But, you know, in reality, people aren't always going to be feeling that. So, yeah, I think it's getting worse for sure.
02:32Well, there's so many empty office buildings as well. They could be repel-posed into housing. Why not? So, yeah, there needs to be more of an effort.
02:42No political party is tackling it because they're all donators. So, I think that's a huge issue for housing in London. There's not enough of it.
02:50Even the mayor of London, I like him a lot. He gets donations. So, I think the whole thing is deeply flawed.
02:57I think the whole thing is deeply flawed.