Figures published today show a 39% rise in the number of households becoming homelessness in London in the first three months of 2012 compared to the same period in the previous year.

After missing his target of halving the number of homeless families stuck in temporary accommodation, the Mayor has now overseen the first rise for seven years. This includes 1,880 households living in B&Bs, up 41% from last year.

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A rising cause of homelessness is private rented tenancies coming to an end, causing 19% of cases from January to March 2012. Private tenants in the UK have among the weakest protections in Europe. The Mayor has so far opposed reforms to the regulation of private rented housing.

Darren Johnson commented: "The Mayor has failed to recognise that private rented housing is simply too expensive and insecure in London. The tragic consequence is that more people are unable to keep a stable home and are ending up living in sheds, sleeping on friends’ sofas or stuck in B&Bs.

"The Mayor's aims of halving the number of people who are homeless and of ending rough sleeping are distant dreams if things continue in this direction. Nothing less than a radical change to private rented housing will do."