London housing report warns of shortage of family homes

A new report titled ‘Uncrowded Houses’ claims that London’s current housing strategy prioritizes small units over the family-sized homes required by residents. Andrew Boff, a senior member of the London Assembly, warned that the focus on meeting high-volume building targets has incentivized developers to build excessive numbers of one and two-bedroom properties.

Data from the Affordable Homes Programme between 2016 and 2025 shows that only 3% of homes built had four or more bedrooms, while 78% were studios, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom properties. Boff suggested that these policies are contributing to families leaving the capital in search of affordable, suitable housing. The London Assembly’s housing committee has recommended reforms to the grant system to better motivate developers to construct larger homes.