Flats let by the night
Short-term rental management in Tunisia: the rules, the duties and the day-to-day running
Letting by the night rather than by the year can earn more, provided you meet obligations that many owners overlook. Here is the Tunisian framework, with sources, and how Kasbahost handles it in the Medina of Tunis.
What it means
Short-term letting in Tunisia, in practice
Short-term letting means renting a furnished home to travellers for a few nights or weeks, usually through Airbnb, Booking.com or directly. It differs from two other cases:
- a long-term let, with a lease and a tenant who lives there;
- a guesthouse, where rooms are let with breakfast in a house subject to its own rules (see guesthouse management).
In the Medina, these are often flats created inside old houses, like the three apartments at the Oukala that we run.
Law and tax
What the law says about a flat let by the night
Much of what circulates online is borrowed from French law. Here is where our research stood on 13 October 2026:
- No specific regime in force. We have found no text in the Official Journal creating a registration scheme for holiday lets like the one in France.
- A bill under discussion. According to Tunisie Numérique (March 2026), Parliament's tourism committee examined a private member's bill regulating furnished flats and houses on 11 March 2026; we have found no record of its adoption.
- The tourist tax extended. According to Article 46 of the 2024 Finance Act, as reported by Managers (in French), it also applies to “other premises intended to be let as rooms, apartments or villas”.
- Registering foreign guests. Law no. 68-7 of 8 March 1968 provides for foreign nationals you house to be declared to the police or National Guard.
- Income tax. Rent is subject to income tax; the exact regime for a furnished nightly let should be confirmed with an accountant or the tax office.
Duties
Police registration, tourist tax, invoices: what we do
With Kasbahost, these duties are part of the service.
Police registration
Guests are registered where required for every stay. Understanding police registration.
Tourist tax
Collected from guests at the current rate. Understanding the tourist tax.
Invoices and monthly statement
Invoices issued, then a statement every month: bookings, expenses, withholding tax and the amount due to you.
Compare
Short-term or long-term letting?
| Short-term (nightly) | Long-term (yearly) | |
|---|---|---|
| Income | Potentially higher, variable | Lower, steady |
| Seasonality | Strong: spring and year-end busier | None |
| Running it | Daily: check-in, cleaning, linen | Occasional |
| Wear and tear | Cleaned and checked after every stay | Assessed at the end of the lease |
| Personal use | Possible, by blocking dates | Not during the lease |
| Duties | Police registration, tourist tax, invoices | Lease, declaring the rent |
Seasonality is real. Across all our units, spring was the busiest season, at an average price of 171 TND; occupancy was 64% in winter at 155 TND, 58% in autumn at 160 TND and 71% in December at 166 TND. Over the whole period our apartments ran at 58% occupancy and our guesthouses at 73% (Kasbahost data, Sept 2025 – Oct 2026). For your flat, our revenue estimator gives a first range.
Where we work
The Medina of Tunis, our only patch
Today we operate only in the Medina of Tunis, where our staff walk between houses. For a flat elsewhere in Greater Tunis, get in touch and we will look at it case by case.
Further reading
Related guides and services
Listing, Superhost, messaging, check-in and cleaning: the day-to-day service.
GuideShort-term rental law in TunisiaTexts in force, the pending bill, co-ownership: the state of the law, with sources.
GuideThe tourist tax in TunisiaWho pays it, how much, and how to pay it over.
KasbahostFor property ownersBoth options, onboarding step by step, and our tools.
FAQ
Short-term rentals: your questions
Is short-term letting legal in Tunisia?
We have found no published text creating a specific regime. According to Tunisie Numérique, a private member's bill was examined in a parliamentary committee in March 2026; we have found no record of its adoption. Check with the National Tourism Office (ONTT) or a lawyer before taking any steps. Our guide to short-term rental law in Tunisia follows the matter.
Do guests have to be registered with the police?
Law no. 68-7 of 8 March 1968 provides for foreign nationals you house to be declared to the police or National Guard station; your local station can tell you the procedure. We register the guests concerned for every stay. See our guide to guest police registration.
Does a flat let by the night have to collect the tourist tax?
In principle, yes: according to Article 46 of the 2024 Finance Act, as reported by the magazine Managers, the tourist tax also covers premises let as rooms, apartments or villas. For your own case, check with the tax office (recette des finances). We collect it and show it on your statements. Details in our guide to the tourist tax.
How is income from nightly lets taxed?
Rent falls under income tax. For a furnished let with services, the exact regime (property income or business profits) should be confirmed with a chartered accountant or the tax office; our statements give you the figures to declare.
Can my building's co-ownership rules forbid it?
Yes, co-ownership rules can ban or restrict short lets. We go through them with you at the viewing.
Do you manage flats in La Marsa or Les Berges du Lac?
The Medina of Tunis is currently our only patch. For a property elsewhere in Greater Tunis, get in touch and we will look at it case by case.
Let's talk about your property
Thinking of letting your flat by the night?
Tell us where it is and what it is like. We will come and see it and tell you what it could earn, duties included.