​​The Role of Urban Law in Advancing Adequate Housing for All​

​​Adequate housing is more than a roof over one’s head. It is a fundamental human right and the foundation for healthy, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities. Yet across the world, millions of people continue to face inadequate housing, insecure tenure, unaffordable living conditions, and unequal access to basic services. 

​This publication emphasizes the role of urban law in ensuring adequate housing through human rights frameworks, international and regional legal standards, and national laws. It links legal domains to housing elements, affordability, habitability, security, accessibility, cultural adequacy, availability, and climate resilience, highlighting the need for integrated legal systems to promote inclusive, sustainable, and rights-based urban development. 

​Drawing on several country examples, it explores the legal innovations and inspiring practices that enable governments to translate the right to adequate housing into effective laws, institutions and implementation mechanisms. 

​Designed for policymakers, legislators, local governments, practitioners, researchers and development partners, the publication provides practical guidance for strengthening housing legal frameworks and governance systems in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda. 

​By placing urban law at the centre of housing policy and urban development, this publication demonstrates how effective legal frameworks can help ensure that no one and no place is left behind.​