You could have sworn about five years before now that you would never be roommates or flatmates with a person you did not know. Nobody wants to get involved in all of those back-and-forth and possibly life-threatening issues with a total stranger. Well, that same way we thought commercial bikes used to be a private means of transportation. Now, times have changed, and co-living spaces have somehow emerged as a transformative housing solution.
These apartments allow shared housing arrangements with private or semi-private rooms but shared common areas like kitchens, living rooms, and outdoor spaces. Some fast-developing Nigerian cities, such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port-Harcourt, have higher demand for affordable and flexible housing. Co-living spaces have met these demands, especially for millennials, 9-5 workers, and students.
A couple of factors have allowed the emergence and stay of co-living spaces. Topping this list is the increase in urbanisation and demand for housing matched with a housing deficit. In Lagos, with over 20 million people, there has been a shortage of affordable housing. Co-living spaces are a means of maximising the spaces that are available and still providing an affordable option for citizens of the state. Some co-living spaces also further shatter the issue with the high cost of living by providing flexible payment options such as monthly or quarterly installment plans, as one- or two-year’ rent may be a financial burden on the average working-class individual in Nigeria.
There is also the appeal of the co-living space it provides, as it provides convenience, flexibility, and community and also allows its residents to access well-furnished apartments with proximity to work or shared payment of basic amenities in the home. This could also foster a sense of community, especially for young people relocating to new cities for work or study. Co-living spaces can allow residents to build meaningful relationships, collaborate, and have more engaging and fun lives.
Despite its level of appeal, it is no news that co-living spaces can also have their challenges. The one challenge we can always see coming is the cultural clash that could occur in communal living. Staying in the same space with individuals from different backgrounds could mean that it may not always be very rosy. And because the concept of co-living spaces is still evolving, developing a working regulatory framework for everyone has not yet been achieved. These and inconsistent utility services have posed a barrier to the widespread adoption of co-living spaces.
As long as the demand for housing in Nigeria keeps increasing, co-living spaces are also expected to remain a relevant solution. What they need is to maintain the appeal in affordability and quality. There is also the need for developing more supportive policies to offer a sustainable and community-oriented solution to housing problems. You know, the thought of a standard, affordable co-living space with a regulatory framework and proper housing terms and conditions may get your mind off roommate issues.
