Unaffordable homes

A young woman I know has decided to live on a boat. London-born and returning from a year working abroad, she chose to buy a home that floats on the capital's rivers and canals as the best of the limited options she had. Yes, she could have tried to gather a group of friends to share a privately-rented flat, but she'd done that for a while after university and she's too grown-up for a repeat. Yes, she could move back in with parents, but she's too independent. Joining her local borough's huge housing waiting list would be a waste of time. And buying a house? In London? On £21,000 a year? The housing charity Shelter has highlighted government figures showing that the the average annual income of London households benefiting from even the cheapest low cost home ownership schemes - the "intermediate" variety of "affordable" housing - was £33,000. Now, the London Tenants Federation has drawn on data showing that the supply of housing for social rent - the part of the "affordable' spectrum worthy of the description - has continued to fall far below London's needs. The capital's builders of social rented homes are presently wrestling with the government's new "affordable rent" model, which will require them to charge rents of up to 80 percent of private sector levels in order to receive state financial support. The planned " total benefits cap " will place such homes beyond the reach of many who need them most. And that young woman could be living on her boat for quite a while. The Guardian on London More ways in which our 'affordable' housing supply is failing Tube strike fuss is about pride, not profits Heritage or horror? Row over Broadgate demolition plan Westminster: home of the capital's first 'community council'? Olympic dreams in Barking and Dagenham EastEnders is unrealistic, admits BBC drama executive Hardest Hit: Disabled people march in London Guardian London city guide Video: Alexei Sayle, London by bike Boy, 15, dies after south London stabbing Three teenagers questioned after Camberwell stabbing Podcast: Are the Olympics creating enough jobs for east Londoners? Will you be going to the 2012 London Paralympics? Three years of Boris: Mayor Johnson's record on crime and policing Police paid out £250,000 in compensation over G20 protests London Living Wage: a message from the Mayor Obituary: 'Big George' Webley London blogosphere Chris Underwood, who writes the Shepherd's Bush blog , has shown the value and potential of hyper-local online journalism with his on-the-spot coverage of a recent fatal shooting . The ensuing comment thread gave a powerful insight into local anger and anxiety about crime, young people and the character of the neighbourhood concerned. It moved Hammersmith and Fulham's new borough commander to write a guest post for Chris addressing his readers' concerns. The Shepherd's Bush Blog is just one among the many top London blogs whose output is aggregated here . Coming up Lots of action-packed public meetings at City Hall next week. On Tuesday morning the transport committee will be assisted in discussing the state of London Underground by, among others, RMT general secretary Bob Crow. That afternoon, planning and housing will agree to investigate conditions in London's private rented sector. Wednesday is the day for May's Mayors Question Time , with Boris taking questions about air quality and his Outer London policies. On Thursday, the environment committee will embark on examining the green legacy - if any? - of the Olympics. I'll be trying to keep an eye on all of these. In some cases I might even succeed. Keep in touch .