KEY workers such as nurses and teaching assistants are being forced out of London as rents in the capital continue to soar, new research found today.

Research by campaign group Generation Rent has found that not a single borough of inner London is affordable for roles across education, healthcare, social care, construction, retail, commerce and hospitality.

It found that the median rent of a one-bedroom home in inner London amounts to more than the entirety of a teaching assistant’s salary, accounting for 106 per cent of their income. 

The same rent was found to amount to 100 per cent of kitchen assistants’ incomes, 97 per cent of cleaners’ incomes and 82 per cent of care workers’ incomes. 

Sales assistants, hairdressers and pharmacy assistants were among those paying over half of their income on rent across every borough in Greater London.

A home is considered affordable if it costs 30 per cent or less of the renter’s income.

Generation Rent is urging London mayoral candidates to demand powers to control rents and commit to building many more social homes if they win in May.

Chief executive Ben Twomey said: “Just a few years ago we were clapping on our doorsteps every week for key workers.

“Now they risk being driven out of our city because of soaring rents.

“For communities to survive, local people must be able to stay healthy, receive an education, find a safe home to live in and purchase basic goods.

“But, if those working in vital jobs cannot afford to live in the area, everyone loses out.

“The current cost of renting crisis is devastating London’s communities.”