Havering’s Housing Crisis: Is The Borough Buckling Under Population Pressure?

Havering is facing increasing strain on its housing market as a growing population and limited affordable housing options create mounting pressure on residents.

Once seen as a quieter borough on the edge of London, Havering is now at the heart of a local housing challenge with rising demand, limited supply, and a growing population changing the landscape rapidly.

According to the most recent figures, approximately 25% of Havering households rent privately, with a further 15% living in council or social housing. While this might appear average on paper, the lived experience paints a different picture. Long waiting lists for council housing, a surge in private rental costs, and limited new developments for affordable housing are leaving many residents—especially younger people and lower-income families—struggling to find suitable accommodation.

Havering Council currently manages around 10,000 council-owned homes, but the demand far outweighs supply. The borough has received thousands of housing applications over recent years, many of which remain unresolved due to limited stock and delays in the building of new social housing, not through fault of the council.

The challenge is compounded by a notable rise in Havering’s population. As of mid-2022, Havering’s population was estimated at 264,703, reflecting an increase of 2,617 people (1.0%) from the previous year. This is part of a broader pattern: from 2011 to 2021, the borough grew by 10.4%, one of the fastest rates in outer London. Projections suggest this trend will continue, with the population expected to reach approximately 274,901 by 2026.

Much of this growth comes from internal migration—people moving out of inner London in search of more affordable housing—and international migration. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, net international migration into Havering was estimated at 1,635, with 327 people moving in from other parts of the UK.

This population boom has placed pressure on local infrastructure, from schools and GP surgeries to public transport and housing services. Residents are increasingly vocal about the need for strategic planning, increased investment in affordable housing, and stronger support systems to help manage this change.

At the same time, Havering Council faces a difficult balancing act. On one hand, there is urgent need to build more homes and reduce the housing waiting list; on the other, there is growing concern among residents about overdevelopment, the loss of green space, and strain on already stretched services. Planning new housing in a way that meets demand while preserving the character of Havering remains one of the council’s toughest challenges.

As Havering continues to grow, the challenge will be ensuring that everyone has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home—a basic need that more and more people in the borough are struggling to meet.

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