The right to housing is enshrined in Article 25 of the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, as an inalienable human right. Both the European Social Charter and Article 47 of the Spanish Constitution recognise it as a right for all, which must be guaranteed by the public authorities by promoting the necessary conditions for its compliance.

A multitude of factors make access to housing a historically unfulfilled right. The shortage of public housing or job insecurity combined with high purchase and rental prices are the most obvious direct causes. In addition, the P2P housing rental platforms are increasing a social problem that goes hand in hand with gentrification. The uncontrolled and disorderly presence of tourism in cities is causing social conflicts, even affecting access to housing itself.

This chair carries out a research activity on how the new economic practices of digital platforms affect the right to adequate housing. This work is aimed at getting Public Administrations to develop regulations and actions aimed at solving a problem that affects the basic needs of citizens and that has direct and indirect repercussions on other spheres of people's lives, such as the right to work or mobility.