Last updated: June 2026
A well-run short let in Accra can net about 10% to 13% against 5% to 7% for a long let, so on yield the short let usually wins. But it is more work, costs more to furnish and run, and its income moves with occupancy. The right choice depends on the unit, the location and how hands-on you want to be.
This is one of the biggest decisions an Accra investor makes, and the honest answer is that higher yield comes with higher effort and more volatility. This piece lays out both sides so you can choose deliberately. It builds on our 2026 rental yield breakdown.
The headline: yield versus effort
Short lets carry the higher net yield, roughly 10% to 13%, because nightly rates across a busy month beat a fixed monthly rent. Long lets net about 5% to 7% but are steady and far less work. The trade is simple: more return for more involvement, or less return for less.
| Factor | Short let | Long let |
|---|---|---|
| Typical net yield | 10% to 13% | 5% to 7% |
| Income stability | Variable, moves with occupancy | Steady, fixed monthly rent |
| Management effort | High: turnovers, cleaning, guests | Low: one tenant, periodic admin |
| Upfront cost | Higher: full furnishing and fit-out | Lower: can let unfurnished or lightly furnished |
| Best suited to | Prime, central, tourist or business locations | Most residential locations with steady demand |
Neither is universally better. The right answer turns on your unit, your location and how much time, or management budget, you are willing to put in.
Short-let economics
A short let earns from a high nightly rate at strong occupancy, which is how it reaches a 10% to 13% net yield. But you fund furnishing, utilities and consumables, and either your own time or a manager taking 15% to 25% of revenue. Income also rises and falls with occupancy.
| Short-let cost | Roughly | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Management or co-host fee | 15% to 25% of revenue | If you are not managing it yourself |
| Furnishing and fit-out | One-off | Required to command nightly rates |
| Utilities and consumables | Ongoing | Paid by the host, not the guest |
| Platform fees | Per booking | Charged by the booking platform |
The numbers work best in prime, central locations with business and visitor demand. For how a single small unit performs, see what a studio can earn on short lets in Accra.
Long-let economics
A long let trades yield for stability. One tenant on a fixed monthly rent gives predictable income, low management and minimal void risk in a strong corridor, netting about 5% to 7%. You can let it unfurnished or lightly furnished, keeping your upfront cost down.
For many diaspora owners, that predictability is worth more than a few points of yield, especially from abroad. Corporate tenants make it stronger still, as covered in corporate and expat rentals.
A unit that works either way
Imaani apartments sit in prime corridors that suit both short and long lets, priced in USD and delivered on a 100% on-time record. Ask us which strategy fits a given unit.
Explore the investment caseThe risks to weigh
Short lets carry occupancy risk, more wear, and exposure to any tightening of short-let rules. Long lets carry the risk of a difficult tenant or a longer void. Both are manageable, but the short let concentrates more of the risk and the work in your hands.
If you cannot actively oversee a short let or pay for management, the long let is the safer default, particularly when you are managing from another country.
How to choose
Match the strategy to the unit and your appetite. A prime, central, well-furnished unit you can have managed leans short let; a unit in a steady residential area, or a hands-off owner, leans long let. A portfolio can run both, smoothing income while keeping the upside.
Whichever you pick, the foundation is a well-located unit in a development with real demand. That is what makes either model perform, as we explain in why the Accra rental market keeps performing.
About Imaani Homes
Imaani Homes is an Accra-based luxury real estate developer, established in 2019, building investment-grade apartments in Ghana’s most prestigious addresses. Across four developments we have delivered every project on time, with two fully sold out: JAK Royale, our debut development, and The Ivy. Alexis Residence in Tesano is over 90% sold, and our flagship Regalia, in the Airport Residential Area, is open for reservations. Our standard is simple: the right property, in the right address, delivered exactly as promised.
Frequently asked questions
Does a short let earn more than a long let in Accra?
On a well-run unit, usually yes on net yield: about 10% to 13% versus 5% to 7% for a long let. But the short let is more work, costs more to set up and furnish, and its income moves with occupancy, so the advantage is not guaranteed.
Why is a short let more profitable on paper?
Because the nightly rate, multiplied across a high-occupancy month, beats a fixed monthly rent. The catch is that you only capture that when occupancy is strong and the unit is well managed, and you carry furnishing, utilities and management costs the long let does not.
What are the hidden costs of a short let?
Management or co-hosting fees of 15% to 25% of revenue, full furnishing and fit-out, ongoing utilities and consumables, and platform fees per booking. These are why a high gross short-let figure lands at a more modest net.
Which is less work?
A long let, by a wide margin. One tenant on a fixed rent needs only periodic admin, while a short let means constant turnovers, cleaning, guest communication and pricing management, either your time or a manager’s fee.
Which should I choose?
Match the strategy to the unit and your appetite. A prime, central unit you can have professionally managed suits a short let; a unit in a steady residential area, or a hands-off owner, suits a long let. Many investors blend the two across a portfolio.
Short let or long let for your unit?
Tell us the unit and location you are considering and we will give you a realistic read on which model earns more for it.
Talk to our teamImportant notice. The figures in this article, including yields, prices, costs, tax rates, and timelines, are indicative estimates based on current market conditions and public sources, and are provided for general information only. They are not guarantees, forecasts, or financial, legal, or tax advice. Actual figures vary with circumstances and change over time. Before making any decision, seek independent professional advice. All purchases are governed solely by the terms of the relevant Sales and Purchase Agreement.