The average London couple can’t start a family because of the cost of renting, the charity Generation Rent has claimed.
The average London couple can’t start a family because of the cost of renting, the charity Generation Rent has claimed.
In the capital the cost of renting a typical two bed home takes up more than half (52%) of a typical couple’s salary, far more than the 30% considered affordable.
Betsy Dillner, director of Generation Rent, said: "Housing is now so expensive even couples on ordinary incomes are unable to start a family. People who grew up here are facing an impossible choice about their future. London’s status as a world capital will rapidly disintegrate if half of its population see the shutters come down on their aspirations.
"We need a mayor who will make lower rents their first priority and take immediate action to help the capital’s 2 million private renters.”
Generation Rent is calling for London mayoral candidates to commit to building homes at affordable rents where the poorest 25% of Londoners will pay no more than 30% of their income on rent.
The charity has ranked each mayoral candidate on whether their individual policies improve the situation for renters on its website.
