Furnished and Serviced Apartments for Rent in Nairobi
Updated 3 November 2026 · Land & Property editorial team
Furnished apartments in Nairobi come as unfurnished-plus-furniture monthly lets, serviced apartments with cleaning and utilities included, and short stays booked by the night. Kileleshwa and Westlands are known for them. On Land & Property, short stays are booked through us and we pay the owner after our percentage. We have no Nairobi rent bands yet, as of November 2026.
- Short-stay model
- Booked through Land & Property; owner paid after our percentage
- Land & Property Nairobi listings, Nov 2026
- None yet, so no rent band
- Residential rent tax for landlords
- 7.5% of gross rent, from 1 January 2024 (KRA)
What is the difference between furnished, serviced and short-stay apartments?
These terms overlap, so compare what each advert includes. These are common meanings, not legal definitions.
| Type | Usually included | Usual stay | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furnished | Furniture and appliances; tenant pays utilities | Months or a year | Staff on assignment, people between homes |
| Serviced | Furniture, cleaning, often utilities and internet | Weeks to months | Business travellers, families relocating |
| Short stay | Everything, with check-in and check-out | Nights to weeks | Visitors, event trips, diaspora on a visit |
Always ask for the minimum stay, what happens to the deposit, and who pays for power, water and internet. A monthly furnished let is a tenancy, so read tenant rights in Kenya before you sign.
Which Nairobi estates have the most furnished apartments?
Wikipedia reports that in Kileleshwa, high-rise flats have replaced many bungalows since zoning changes in the early 2000s, and that short-stay furnished apartments, including Airbnb rentals, have grown there. It describes Westlands as a significant apartment and off-plan residential market, linked with upper-middle and high-income demand. Kilimani, with Yaya Centre and high-rise residential development, is a third place to look. See our pages on Westlands and Kilimani.
We have not counted furnished units by estate, so we do not rank them. Ask each building how many units are let furnished and whether the caretaker allows short stays.
How much is a furnished apartment in Nairobi?
We cannot quote a sourced range. As of November 2026 Land & Property has no Nairobi rental listings, and the price indices we found do not report furnished rent by estate. Compare current adverts for the same building type and the same number of bedrooms. The extra you pay for furniture should be clear, and a large gap between furnished and unfurnished rent in the same block needs an explanation.
For a Ugandan reference point, read furnished apartments in Kampala.
How do short stays work on Land & Property?
Short-stay apartments are booked through Land & Property. The guest pays us. After the stay we pay the owner, once we have taken our percentage. This is how we list Airbnb-style apartments, and it works for owners who want guests without managing payments themselves, and for guests who want one place to book. Read how booking and payment works and cancellation and refunds.
- Guests: browse Nairobi short stays and book through us.
- Owners: see host in Nairobi, and payouts and commission.
What rules and tax apply to hosts in Nairobi?
We have not verified Kenya's licensing rules or tax treatment for short stays, so we do not state them. Before listing, ask the Kenya Revenue Authority or a Kenyan tax adviser how your income is taxed, and ask the building's management whether short stays are allowed. For long monthly lets of residential property, the Kenya Revenue Authority states monthly rental income tax of 7.5% of gross rent from 1 January 2024, for annual rent above KES 280,000 and up to KES 15 million (KRA, as of November 2026). It is due by the 20th of the following month. See our landlord tax guide.
For the Uganda rules we have checked, read short-let rules and tax in Uganda.
How do I find a verified furnished apartment and avoid scams?
Furnished listings attract the same scams as other lets. Kenyans.co.ke describes prime-area listings priced far too low, impersonators with fake lease papers and pressure to pay early. Do not pay a deposit until you have seen the unit and met someone who can show they may let it. Check any agent as explained on our agents and brokers page. Booking through us keeps payment inside the platform. Owners and brokers can join as a verified Kenyan broker. More options: studio and 1 bedroom, offices to let, apartments for sale, and the Nairobi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a furnished apartment in Nairobi?
We have no sourced range. As of November 2026 Land & Property has no Nairobi rental listings. Compare current adverts for the same estate and bedroom count, and ask what the furniture adds to the rent.
What does serviced mean?
A serviced apartment usually comes furnished with cleaning and often utilities and internet included, for stays of weeks or months. It is a common term, not a legal one, so ask each building for a written list of what the rent covers and the minimum stay.
Can I rent furnished by the month?
Often yes. Many furnished apartments let by the month, while short-stay apartments are priced by the night. Ask for the minimum stay, the deposit and who pays power, water and internet before you agree.
How are Airbnb-style stays paid for on Land & Property?
Guests book and pay through Land & Property. We then pay the owner after taking our percentage. Booking through us keeps payment inside the platform, and owners do not collect cash from guests directly.
Do I pay tax if I list a short-stay apartment in Nairobi?
We have not verified the rules for short stays, so ask the Kenya Revenue Authority or a tax adviser. For long residential lets, KRA states monthly rental income tax at 7.5% of gross rent for annual rent above KES 280,000 and up to KES 15 million, as of November 2026.
Sources
- Kileleshwa (Wikipedia), Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
- Westlands, Nairobi (Wikipedia), Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
- Kilimani (Wikipedia), Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
- Residential rental income tax (MRI), Kenya Revenue Authority (accessed 2026-11)
- Most popular house hunting scams to avoid in Nairobi, Kenyans.co.ke (accessed 2026-11)