Nigeria’s urban housing crisis has led to a surge in co-living arrangements, as both tenants and landlords adapt shared dwelling models to ease rising costs.
In major cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, traditional family homes are being divided into multiple living spaces. Three-bedroom flats now commonly feature shared kitchens and bathrooms, living rooms converted into bedrooms, and even balconies repurposed for sleeping.
These changes are driven by economic pressures: over the past two years, rent hikes of up to 100% alongside inflation between 27% and 33% have forced low-income earners, students, and professionals to seek creative affordability solutions.
A new group of “micro-landlords” has emerged, subletting portions of their rented homes to cover rent. This informal trend, however, often violates tenancy terms, triggers utility disputes, security issues, and strains infrastructure prompting some landlords to pursue evictions or legal action.
Unlike global co-living models seen in cities like New York or Berlin, Nigeria’s approach is largely unregulated and makeshift. Conversions involve spaces such as garages or corridors, often lacking proper ventilation, privacy, or essential amenities.
Some landlords are now responding by formalizing co-living: requiring joint tenancy agreements, adjusting service charges for multiple tenants, and professionally retrofitting homes to support shared living arrangements.
Urban planners warn that while co-living addresses immediate affordability, it exposes gaps in infrastructure and planning. Policy experts urge the government to:
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Support affordable housing via public–private partnerships
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Introduce rent-to-own schemes and housing subsidies
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Enforce building standards for safety in shared conversions
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Include condominiums and low-income housing in urban renewal plans
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Utilize unused public land for sustainable housing solutions
Planners emphasize the need for proactive development that considers social, economic, and infrastructural realities rather than reactive fixes to the housing shortfall.
Real estate professionals note evolving tenant behavior, especially among young renters requiring flexibility. Landlords must adapt by offering co-living models, flexible rents, and terms that reflect current market dynamics.
