In the UK, co-ownership (also called fractional or shared ownership) is reshaping the property market. Instead of one person buying an entire home or office, multiple investors each buy a share. This “fractional” model “democratises access” to real estate by breaking down the huge financial barriers of property ownership. For example, UK house prices averaged about £286,000 in 2024 – an amount unaffordable for many. Co-ownership platforms let people co-own real estate with much smaller sums. Online services like Property Partner or Brickowner enable anyone to buy shares in a residential or commercial property (even investing just a few hundred pounds). In effect, thousands more Britons can now enter the housing and commercial real estate markets by pooling their resources rather than taking on a full mortgage.

Key Drivers: Affordability, Urban Demand, and Policy Support

Several factors explain why co-ownership is growing in the UK:

• Affordability Crisis: Skyrocketing home prices mean few can afford to go it alone. With the average UK home at ~£286K and many millennials priced out, fractional ownership spreads the cost.
• Homeownership Gap: UK homeownership has edged downward (around 64.5% of adults now own a home), so first-time buyers seek new paths. Government data show ~77% of shared-ownership purchases went to first-timers in 2022–23. Co-owning can help a young couple or sole earner get on the ladder.
• Urban Demand: City living is expensive, yet demand in London, Manchester and other urban centres remains high. Co-ownership lets multiple buyers share a premium city flat or office, rather than one person bearing the full cost.
• Government Initiatives: The UK subsidises “part-buy, part-rent” schemes. In 2022–23 alone, more than 20,000 new shared-ownership homes were delivered – a record since the scheme began. These policies explicitly encourage partial homebuying for those who cannot afford 100% of the price.
• Tech and Diversification: Modern proptech platforms streamline the process. Investors can manage co-owned properties online, earn rental income passively, and even sell shares on a secondary market. As one analyst notes, fractional ownership lets people diversify (“spread their funds across multiple properties”) and enjoy rental yields without being landlords.

Collectively, these drivers have made the UK a hotbed for co-ownership. What’s new here is that ordinary Nigerians can now learn from and tap into these trends, whether by investing abroad or applying similar ideas at home.

Relevance for Nigerians and the Diaspora

For Nigerians – at home and overseas – the UK co-ownership boom offers lessons and opportunities. Many Nigerians abroad already channel significant funds into property. In fact, about 70% of investments in Nigeria’s real estate sector come from the diaspora. In 2024, remittances to Nigeria topped $20.93 billion (8.9% higher than the year before), with a large portion ending up in housing. Yet diasporans often face risks (fraudulent developers, unclear titles, etc.) when buying alone. Co-ownership platforms could mitigate these issues by pooling funds under transparent legal structures.

Nigerians living in the UK are already familiar with shared-equity schemes (like Gov.uk’s shared ownership) and could apply that knowledge back home. They might use savings or collective accounts to co-invest with family or friends in Lagos or Abuja projects. The keywords “Nigerians investing in property” and “co-own real estate” reflect exactly this trend: people seeking new, more affordable routes into property. By banding together, more Nigerians can enter high-value markets or prime urban developments that would be out of reach alone. In short, UK co-ownership models inspire Nigerians in the diaspora to own stakes in homes – whether in London or Lagos – rather than save for decades to buy outright.

Nigeria’s Housing Challenges and Co-Ownership Solutions

Nigeria faces a huge housing shortfall. Estimates put the deficit in the tens of millions of homes. Urban demand far outstrips supply, and formal mortgages are rare (with double-digit interest rates). Many Nigerians spend a large share of their income on rent or informal housing. In this context, shared ownership offers a potential solution. By allowing multiple buyers to split the cost of a new apartment or housing development, co-ownership lowers the financial barrier. For example, a group of five friends could jointly purchase one new unit, each holding a 20% share, and share any rental income or future sale proceeds.

This “affordable property ownership in Africa” concept is just emerging. Real estate experts in Nigeria note that government programs (like the Family Homes Fund) have built only a few thousand low-cost homes. In contrast, co-ownership could tap both local savings and diaspora remittances more efficiently. It can also reduce risk by distributing it: a single bad investment by one developer hurts many, rather than one person. Ultimately, co-ownership addresses two Nigerian needs at once – it helps middle-income Nigerians (at home or abroad) buy property, and it injects new capital into housing construction.

Citisquare Africa: Democratizing African Real Estate

One company already bringing co-ownership to Nigeria is Citisquare Africa. This startup offers a platform where properties are divided into purchasable “real estate notes”. As Citisquare explains, their model “democratizes access to real estate ownership” by allowing anyone to buy these notes and own a fraction of a building. In practice, Citisquare might list a new development in Lagos and break it into hundreds of notes; investors can then each buy some notes. The legal structure ensures each co-owner’s share is recorded, while a professional manager handles the property. This means Nigerians can effectively co-own real estate projects without needing to arrange mortgages or navigate complex land-title issues themselves.

The key point is entry barrier reduction. Instead of needing millions of naira as a down payment, an investor might start with tens of thousands. Over time, holders of real estate notes can earn rental income or sell their notes as the property value rises. Citisquare’s platform also integrates diaspora needs – for example, by enabling remote investment and providing title-verified listings. In essence, it applies the UK fractional-investment playbook to African real estate.

Take the Next Step

The rise of co-ownership in the UK – driven by affordability woes and tech innovation – offers a powerful model for Nigeria. By pooling resources, co-ownership helps more people access property. Nigerians (both local and abroad) interested in property can explore this model through platforms like Citisquare Africa. To learn more about how you can “co-own real estate” affordably, visit Citisquare’s site or get in touch with their team. This new era of affordable property ownership in Africa may be your pathway onto the housing ladder or into commercial real estate – an opportunity inspired by global best practices.