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Londoners with severe mental health problems are missing out on housing due to a damaging postcode lottery of services, according to new research, writes Amy Taylor.

The report, one of a series being produced by the King's Fund as a part of its 'Mental Health Inquiry', found that there are significant variations in the amount of specialist housing available in different London boroughs that have no correlation to need.

It found that the amount of supported housing available for mental health sufferers has declined per head over the past five years, with the amount provided by housing associations remaining static. The overall quality of housing that is available was found to be inadequate.

Kathleen Boyle, one of the authors of the report, said: "Housing is central to mental health services, but the majority of homes are concentrated within inner London boroughs and many outer London boroughs are missed out."

The report's findings also show that mental health sufferers' complexity of need is higher than five years ago, but that providers of specialist housing are reluctant to accept people with complex mental health problems.

The report, 'Housing for Londoners with Mental Health Needs', is available here