Joint-titling of land and housing: examples, causes and consequences

Across the world, low rates of land ownership remain as one of the most persistent signs of gender inequality

Abstract

Across the world, low rates of land ownership remain as one of the most persistent signs of gender inequity. While many developing countries have adopted legislation to reinforce gender equality in property ownership, the actual de facto state of women’s right to land often remains unchanged. Even when countries adopt joint-titling policies intended to shift household bargaining power in favour of women, actual rates of joint ownership are often lower than expected.

However, there are some examples at the national, state, city and project level where progress has been made towards getting women’s right to land formalised, either as single or joint-holders of a land title. To better understand how this progress can be achieved, this report documents several cases from around the developing world.

Citation

Collin, M. Joint-titling of land and housing: examples, causes and consequences. EPS PEAKS, UK (2013) 26 pp.

Published 1 January 2013