An official at the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) has called for greater public spending as the number of residents on social housing lists in London increased last year.

The National Housing Federation reported that the national figure of households on waiting lists will hit a record of 1.97 million by 2011 - twice as high as 2001.

Jim Vine, head of programme housing policy and practice at BSHF, said there is a need for "continued investment" in the housing sector during the recession.

He added: "Not only does it help to meet the need for decent roofs over families' heads, but investment in housing also keeps people in work."

National Housing Federation figures showed that 880,000 Londoners were waiting for housing in the year up to April 2009 and the average number of people increased across 22 boroughs.

Written by Emily Sanders