Maisonette

In Kenya, "maisonette" means a multi-storey house rather than the British meaning of a two-level flat. A typical maisonette has a lounge, dining area and kitchen on the ground floor, bedrooms upstairs (often with the main bedroom en suite), a small garden or yard, and often a DSQ.

Maisonettes are built in large numbers in gated estates along Thika Road, Kangundo Road, Mombasa Road, Kiambu Road and in satellite towns such as Syokimau, Ruiru, Kitengela and Athi River. In an estate, houses may share walls with their neighbours, share a perimeter wall and gate, and pay a service charge for security and common areas. A maisonette on its own plot is often advertised with "own compound".

The labels overlap. Many maisonettes in estates are also marketed as townhouses, and some listings use the two words for the same kind of house. Despite the boom in maisonettes, KNBS data reported by Nation shows that most Kenyans say they would prefer a bungalow.

On Kenya Property Centre maisonettes usually appear among houses, often in the townhouse or detached and semi-detached sub-types, so search houses in your chosen area.

What it costs to run. In a gated estate, budget for the service charge, security and water as well as the price or rent. On its own plot, a maisonette gives more privacy but leaves you to arrange security and maintenance yourself.

• Thika Road, Kiambu Road and Ruiru: large gated estates of terraced and semi-detached maisonettes.
• Mombasa Road, Syokimau and Athi River: estate maisonettes aimed at families working in Nairobi.
• Karen, Runda and older suburbs: larger stand-alone maisonettes on their own plots.