EVIDENCE REVIEW: HOUSING AND HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN LONDON

The evidence presented in the review is tailored to the London context due to the number of characteristics that distinguish the relationship between health and housing in London from elsewhere in England, namely: QUALITY • M any more households are likely to be living in cold homes, with increased damp and mould, as household energy bills continue to rise into 2023. [...] Overcrowding is a serious and rising housing quality issue in London that relates to the high and increasing cost of housing relative to housing benefit rates and incomes, and the lack of supply of affordable housing. [...] Measures of overcrowding In estimates of overcrowding the ‘Bedroom Standard’ is based on the difference between the number of bedrooms needed to avoid undesirable sharing given the number, ages and relationships in the household, and the number of bedrooms actually available (40). [...] • I n the absence of significant improvements in housing security the rising cost of living is likely to lead to an increase in the already high number of children in London who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. [...] 29 EVIDENCE REVIEW: HOUSING AND HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN LONDON CONTENTS HOUSING SECURITY IN THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR IN LONDON The private rented sector is home to a higher share of the population in London than in most areas of England, meaning more people are affected by the accompanying issues of poor quality and insecurity of tenure in London.