“They know people are desperate… some of the places aren’t fit for dogs to live in.”
It’s a distressing statement, but one that Melanie (not her real name) truly believes reflects the state of housing in Lewisham.
Lewisham is one of London’s most diverse boroughs, home to migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker communities now facing an unprecedented housing crisis. Behind the statistics on poverty and overcrowding are human stories of exploitation, unsafe homes, and the daily fight for dignity.
Generation Rent and the Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) spoke to people navigating this broken system. We met with 11 LRMN members to discuss their experiences and have now published a report with findings from this focus group. Their words reveal a stark truth: the housing market is failing those who need stability the most.
Exploitation and Unsafe Homes
Many participants, including Simon and Maria, described landlords who take advantage of their vulnerability:
“Private landlords exploit tenants’ fear of eviction. They neglect repairs, threaten eviction if rent is late, and won’t communicate… That’s part of the experience for a private renter.”
“Repairs go undone, windows remain broken, and the heating system doesn’t work – even in winter. There are young children living there.”
From broken fire alarms to mouldy carpets that worsen health conditions, these stories paint a picture of homes that are not just inadequate, but potentially dangerous.
Systemic barriers
Umar described the difficulties of navigating countless obstacles as an asylum seeker – even after gaining the right to work and rent. Language barriers, digital exclusion, and misinformation from officials leave many unable to access the housing they are entitled to. Meanwhile, proof of income and money for a deposit are usual requirements for all tenants to a new home, it is especially difficult for recent refugees and other newcomers to the country to meet them.
“If you’ve just got your papers… the landlord will want proof of a steady income, a deposit – some even request a full month’s rent in advance – or a guarantor.”
“By the time they finally secure a [social] property, their children may already be grown, leaving families stuck in overcrowded [privately rented] homes.”
Discrimination and informal renting
Discrimination from landlords and letting agents is rife, especially for asylum seekers, as Jess explained:
“A private landlord laughed and said, ‘We do not rent at all to asylum seekers.’”
With formal routes blocked, some turn to informal arrangements e.g. renting from friends or acquaintances without contracts. This leaves them exposed to sudden evictions, rent hikes, and abuse.
Mental health under strain
The instability of housing takes a heavy toll on mental health and undermines basic dignity, as Aliyah described:
“Accommodation is more critical than food – you need somewhere secure before you eat. When you lack a home, you lose your sense of stability as a human being.”
Charities as a lifeline
In the absence of effective state support, charities and community groups are stepping in to prevent the situation from worsening. Many participants, including Simon, emphasised their importance:
“Without these charities, far more people would end up sleeping on the streets.”
But these organisations, including LRMN, are overstretched. Without systemic change, they cannot meet the scale of the crisis.
A call for change
The voices from Lewisham are clear: the housing system is failing migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They call for:
- Stronger protections against rent rises and no-fault evictions
- Proper enforcement against criminal landlords and letting agents
- An end to discriminatory policies such as Right to Rent checks and the right-to-work ban for asylum seekers
- Reform the welfare system – Raise Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to actual rents and keep it in line with them every year and scrap the benefit cap.
No one should be forced to choose between unsafe housing and homelessness. And no one, regardless of immigration status, should be treated as less deserving of a safe and secure home.
The participants quoted in this story were part of a focus group conducted by Generation Rent and LRMN in Lewisham in 2025. All names have been changed to protect their identities.
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