Sadiq Khan calls for rent freeze as rough sleeping rises by a fifth in London

Mayor demands government action including end to benefit cap and more resources for councils as cost of living crisis bites

New warnings have emerged over a significant increase in rough sleeping in London, amid concerns that the cost of living crisis is forcing more people on to the streets and hindering the services trying to help them.

The numbers sleeping rough in the capital have increased by 21% on a year ago. London mayor Sadiq Khan said that without government intervention, the progress made in sheltering people since the Covid-19 pandemic would be reversed.