The astronomical rise in house prices in London has been well documented. Less attention has been given, however, to the way its housing shortage has now shifted first to the boroughs and now to towns outside the capital altogether.

The latest monthly stats from the Land Registry show that while prices are static in parts of inner London, the rises are in double figures – not just in the cheaper outer boroughs but in the peripheral towns, or what one might refer to as ‘the honorary London boroughs.'