Posted24.02.25
Spotlight on Kensington & Chelsea
Situated in central London, Kensington & Chelsea is a borough of contrasts. It is the smallest borough in London, and one of the most densely populated regions in the UK.
Alongside that it is one of the most expensive places to live in the country and is home to a lot of wealth. However, that wealth is spread very unevenly. Around half of all children there attend private school, while half of those who do not are living in poverty. Life expectancies vary by as much as twenty years from one ward to another. For many, the discrepancies between groups in the borough was highlighted most starkly by the Grenfell tower tragedy, which took place in the borough in 2017.
In terms of homelessness, the borough’s rough sleeping figures are slightly lower than the London average: 226 people were seen rough sleeping in the borough across last year. However, when it comes to offering homes for people who need them, the borough does have unusual challenges.
The median house price in Kensington & Chelsea has soared to five times the median house price in England & Wales, reaching £1,400,000 compared to £282,500. In April, the Office for National Statistics reported that 30.5% of households in Kensington & Chelsea experienced a rise in private rent in 2023, placing it among the areas with the highest increases in London.
We run two services in Kensington and Chelsea, Beacon House and Burton White House. The first has 16 rooms, and the second has 24. Everybody staying in those services is aged between 16 and 24. Some have come from the care system, others have experienced rough sleeping, and some are refugees who have been granted leave to remain in the UK. Both services provide every customer their own caseworker, and offer counselling, employment support and help with wider independent-living skills. This combination equips them to build financial security and move into their own independent accommodation, either inside or beyond the borough.
Key Kensington & Chelsea stats:
- Number of people seen rough sleeping in 2023/24: 226
- Average price of a house: £1,400,000
- Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom property: £3,554
- Number of people staying in our services: 40
If you are in Kensington and Chelsea and at risk of homelessness, or you know somebody who is, the first step you can take to seek advice is by contacting the Council, who have a range of processes in place through which they can support you. You can read more about this here.
If you would like more information about our work in Kensington and Chelsea, or would like to support us, please email louisa.bull@evolvehousing.org.uk
