CouncilLiving well
Housing
Overcrowded housing is a problem within the borough – based on the latest census data and overcrowding definition 29% of households are overcrowded compared to 24.6% for Inner London and 7% nationally.
The age and condition of council owned housing is a concern within the borough with much of the housing stock in need of major repair.
The high proportion of households reliant on housing benefit also gives a strong indication of the relative levels of poverty in the borough.
Demand for housing far outstrips the supply available and the local authority owned stock is decreasing as a result of the Right to Buy initiative and a range of regeneration programmes.
Average house prices have increased by 12% in the last year partly due to the expansion of the Docklands area and associated “top end” housing developments.
Current prices in the private sector housing market are well out of the reach of many borough residents who are forced to rely mainly on the shrinking supply in the social rented sector (Local Authority and Social Landlords).
Borough profile - living well housing (PDF 5Mb)
Health
Poor health is just one of the factors associated with multiple deprivations. The borough population has relatively high adult and infant mortality rates compared to Greater London and England & Wales.
The percentage of the working age population who receive incapacity benefit is also much higher than the national and regional figures.
The borough has much lower proportions of children who are on the child protection register or looked after by the Local Authority when compared to inner London.
The Child Poverty Index shows that on average approximately 75% of children live in low income families in Tower Hamlets.
