Housing: A Human Right or a Financial Asset? | Leilani Farha (The Shift)

How are investors changing the housing market and what political
actions are needed to counteract it? With Leilani Farha, Global
Director of The Shift and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right
to Housing, joins us to discuss the financialization of housing,
where homes are no longer seen primarily as places to live but as
speculative financial assets. Landlords without faces, apartments
without tenants—how do we reclaim our cities? Private investors,
large funds, and complex financial instruments are reshaping
housing markets worldwide. What are the consequences for tenants
and communities? And with developments at the European level, do we
have a real chance of making housing a human right rather than just
an investment opportunity? We’ll explore practical solutions—from
stronger legal regulations and social housing policies to
innovative ideas like profit caps to curb speculative gains.
Drawing from her work with governments, investors, and grassroots
movements, Leilani will share insights on how we can push back
against the commodification of housing and reclaim homes as a
fundamental human right. Link to the YouTube version with German
subtitles: https://youtu.be/XsNUNdZm_Q8 Link to Leilani’s podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0Swm2H6r94CBGgfXYa2WKz We value your
feedback! Share your thoughts on X (@rasmusandresen), Instagram
(@gruenrasmus), or via email (podcast@rasmus-andresen.eu). You can
now also send us voice messages at
www.speakpipe.com/MoneyMattersPodcast Money Matters is a podcast by
and with Rasmus Andresen, Member of the European Parliament for the
Greens. Hosts: Anna-Lena Kümpel & Rasmus Andresen Concept:
Jonas Illigmann Production: BosePark Productions Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction 02:21 – Guest introduction: Leilani Farha and
The Shift 05:31 – The right to housing and its practical
implementation 07:24 – Transition from the UN to The Shift 10:17 –
A look back at the last 10 years: Changes in the housing sector
13:15 – Financialization of housing: Definition and global examples
19:06 – Financialization in Europe: Influence of U.S. investment
funds 25:24 – Developments at the EU level: A new focus on housing
28:59 – Challenges posed by political divides in the EU 35:32 –
What can governments do? Approaches to solving the housing crisis
43:55 – Housing crisis in rural and urban areas 48:08 – Conclusion:
Progress and challenges in the housing sector