Houses and Apartments for Rent in Nairobi by Estate

Which Nairobi estate suits which renter?

Nairobi City County had 4,397,073 people at the 2019 census, spread over 11 sub-counties (Wikipedia, Nairobi). Renters rarely choose a sub-county. They choose an estate, and the estates below are the ones this guide covers. The descriptions use only facts we could check in public sources, as of November 2026.

We also plan pages for Lavington, Roysambu, South B and South C and Ruiru. We only describe an estate in detail once we can source its local facts.

What does rent cost in Nairobi?

We will not quote a rent band we cannot source. As of November 2026 Land & Property has no Nairobi rental listings, so there is no listing data of our own to publish. The public price index we found (Hass Consult) tracks house prices, not monthly rent by estate. A separate Hass Consult special report says Kenya property prices rose about 7.8% in the year to June 2025.

To judge a price yourself, collect at least five current adverts for the same estate, the same number of bedrooms and the same level of finish. Ignore the cheapest and the dearest, and treat any advert far below the rest as a warning, not a bargain. Once verified brokers list with us, this page will show dated ranges from their listings.

How do I avoid rental scams in Nairobi?

Kenyans.co.ke describes the common patterns: homes in prime areas priced far below the market, agents who pose as landlords with fake lease papers, pressure to pay upfront to "reserve" a unit, and viewing fees charged to people who are then drawn into further schemes. Citizen Digital adds that some agents show houses they cannot access.

• Never pay a reservation or deposit before you have seen the unit with someone who can prove authority to let it.
• Ask the agent for the registration details and check them. Our page on estate agents and brokers in Nairobi explains how.
• Be suspicious of urgent requests for money, including from anyone claiming to be police.
• Pay by a traceable route and keep every receipt and message.

What are my rights and costs as a tenant or landlord?

Our guide to tenant rights in Kenya covers deposits, notice and eviction. On tax, the Kenya Revenue Authority says monthly rental income tax on residential rent is 7.5% of gross rent from 1 January 2024. It applies to rent above KES 280,000 and up to KES 15 million a year, and is due by the 20th of the following month (KRA page, as of November 2026). Our landlord tax guide goes through it in more detail.

Can brokers and landlords list on Land & Property in Kenya?

Yes. Brokers and landlords can apply, and we verify people before they get a Verified badge. The Estate Agents Registration Board (EARB) says individual agents must be Kenyan citizens with a recommendation from a registered agent and a certificate of good conduct, so we ask Kenyan brokers for their registration as well as our own identity and selfie check. Read how we verify agents, then join as a verified Kenyan broker. Our wider verified agents programme started in Uganda.

Can I book a short stay or list an Airbnb-style apartment?

Yes. Short-stay apartments on Land & Property are booked through us: the guest pays us, and we pay the owner after taking our percentage. That helps owners who want to list a furnished apartment and guests who want a place for a few nights. See Nairobi short stays to find a stay, or host in Nairobi to list one. For monthly furnished lets, read furnished and serviced apartments in Nairobi.

Where do I go if I want to buy instead of rent?

Start with apartments for sale in Nairobi and our Kenya land ownership guide. Buyers from Uganda should read the Kenya guide first, because rules on who can hold land differ between the two countries. Our Uganda rentals are on the rentals page.

In this section

• Apartments for Rent in Kileleshwa, NairobiKileleshwa apartments and maisonettes beside the Nairobi Arboretum: how the estate is changing, what to check in a block, and rent evidence, dated Nov 2026.
• Apartments for Rent in Kilimani, NairobiKilimani apartments to rent near Yaya Centre and Ngong Road: how to compare blocks, furnished options, rent evidence and checks, dated Nov 2026.
• Apartments for Rent in Westlands, NairobiWestlands apartments and serviced units near Sarit Centre and Waiyaki Way: who rents here, furnished rents and the Expressway link, dated Nov 2026.
• Apartments for Sale in Nairobi: Areas, Titles and CostsBuying an apartment in Nairobi: Kilimani, Westlands, Kileleshwa compared, sectional titles, Ardhisasa searches, stamp duty and fees, dated Nov 2026.
• Bedsitters and Houses for Rent in Roysambu, NairobiRoysambu rentals on Thika Road near TRM: bedsitters, single rooms and 1-2 bedroom flats, student and commuter demand, dated Nov 2026.
• Bedsitters for Rent in Nairobi: Areas, Rent and ChecksWhat a Nairobi bedsitter is, how it differs from a single room and a studio, where they cluster along Thika Road, and what to check on water and deposits.
• Estate Agents and Brokers in Nairobi: How to Choose OneHow to check a Nairobi estate agent or broker: EARB registration, fees, viewing-fee scams, and how to list as a verified broker on our site.
• Furnished and Serviced Apartments for Rent in NairobiFurnished and serviced apartments in Nairobi: Westlands, Kilimani and Kileleshwa, what monthly rent includes, how short stays are booked, and landlord tax.
• House to Let in Nairobi: Houses, Maisonettes, BungalowsHouses to let in Nairobi (not flats): maisonettes, bungalows and standalone houses by estate, what to-let boards mean and rent evidence, dated.
• Houses and Apartments for Rent in Lavington, NairobiLavington rentals along James Gichuru Road: family houses, apartments, school and mall access, rent evidence dated Nov 2026.
• Houses and Apartments for Rent in South B and South CSouth B and South C rentals off Mombasa Road: apartments, maisonettes, Wilson Airport and Industrial Area commutes, dated Nov 2026.
• Houses and Bedsitters for Rent in Kasarani, NairobiKasarani rentals along Thika Road: bedsitters, 1-2 bedroom flats, Mwiki and Sunton, with rent evidence and commute facts, dated Nov 2026.
• Houses for Rent in Karen, NairobiKaren houses to rent on large plots: Ngong Road and Langata Road access, gated communities, rents and security costs, dated Nov 2026.
• Houses for Rent in Ruiru, Kiambu CountyRuiru houses to rent on the Thika Road corridor: estates, commuter links, rents against Nairobi suburbs and what to check, dated Nov 2026.
• Landlord Tax in Kenya: Monthly Rental Income (MRI)How Kenyan landlords pay tax on rent: the Monthly Rental Income regime, thresholds, KRA iTax filing and non-resident rules. Dated Nov 2026.
• Offices to Let in Nairobi: Westlands, Upper Hill, CBDOffices to let in Nairobi: Westlands, Upper Hill, CBD and Gigiri compared, rent per square foot basis, lease terms and service charges.
• Rent to Own Houses in Nairobi: How It WorksRent-to-own homes in Nairobi explained: how the schemes are structured, the risks, Boma Yangu and mortgage alternatives, dated Nov 2026.
• Short Stay in Nairobi: Kilimani and WestlandsNairobi short stays in Kilimani and Westlands: furnished apartments, business and shopping access, traffic, and booking and payment safely.
• Studio and 1 Bedroom Apartments for Rent in NairobiStudios and one-bedroom apartments in Nairobi by estate, with cheaper areas, what rent includes and how to compare units, dated Nov 2026.
• Tenant Rights in Kenya: Deposits, Notice, EvictionTenant rights in Kenya: rent increases, notice, deposits, distress for rent and where to complain, with the Acts cited. Dated Nov 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• Estate Agents and Brokers in Nairobi: How to Choose One
• Furnished and Serviced Apartments for Rent in Nairobi
• Apartments for Sale in Nairobi: Areas, Titles and Costs
• Kenya Land Ownership Guide for Ugandan Investors
• Houses and Apartments for Rent in Uganda
• Tenant Rights in Kenya: Deposits, Notice, Eviction