How things have changed!
Just over 40 years ago I was selected to do a specialist year's assignment in Central London as a singlie.
"Can you commute daily if we put you in an out of London Mess?"
" No , I have late evening and other irregular commitments that are essential for task conduct"
" Do you wish us to suggest accommodation options?"
" Nope, already sorted" (Sharing a 4 bedroom house plus garage with a mate from the Home Office, also within cycling distance of the area of operation)
"So Inner London Allowance would put it it all to bed then ?"
"Yes indeed."
And that was it,