Explained: What is UN's 'right to adequate housing' and why it matters

Housing is increasingly viewed as an investment asset, but the United Nations maintains that it is first and foremost a basic human right.According to the United Nations, the right to adequate housing means more than having a roof over one's head. It includes security of tenure, protection from forced eviction or dispossession, access to basic services and infrastructure, and the ability to live close to schools, employment and healthcare in a manner consistent with one's culture and dignity.Yet violations of this right remain widespread, often because housing is rarely treated as a genuine human right in domestic policymaking. The UN says realising this right depends on governments adopting appropriate laws, policies and national housing strategies.Scale of the crisisThe financialisation of housing, where homes become vehicles for investment and wealth creation rather than a social good, has transformed housing markets across the world.