"However, London Councils see this very much as a working document, as the housing landscape will change rapidly as the fallout from the economic situation increases - and when the government publishes its housing green paper in spring.

"To get ahead of the game, the Mayor must explore how to make the private rented sector work better for Londoners. If we can make this sector more attractive to our residents we can reduce pressure on the rest of the capital's housing stock.

"London Councils also fears the Mayor's emphasis on low cost home ownership - which should be praised for its ambition to make owner occupation more affordable - may not be viable in the current financial climate. With more and more Londoners at risk of repossession, what the capital needs is more affordable rented housing. I urge the Mayor to support us to deliver it."

Notes to editors

The Mayor's housing strategy was released today, Thursday 20 November.

For more information, please visit the Mayor of London's website Opens in a new window

For more information on London Councils' housing proposals, please visit the housing policy pages linked to the left of this article.

In August, London Councils launched Rethinking Housing, which sets out key reforms to help councils respond to the challenges of providing homes in the credit crunch.