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rental requirments?

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remember8
  4/21/2019 14:28 EST

what is required by owners to rent a property or apartment in Panama? what do owners usually require and do you need to apply before you come to Panama and pay a deposit? anything I should be aware of when renting.?

ranadelnorte
  4/21/2019 14:46 EST

Owners require that you make a deposit - usually a month’s rent in advance. before giving you the keys. You’ll need i.d., such as a passport or cedula, to sign the lease.
You can do a search remotely before you arrive, but DO NOT sign a lease without having seen the unit, and make sure that the landlord really owns the apartment. Your immigration attorney can check the proper registers for this. Some advise to make the deposit in escrow to the Ministry of Housing, but my lawyer said this is no longer necessary. There are no standardized leases, so have your immigration lawyer read the proposed lease over before you sign. To be legal, the lease must be notarized. You and the landlord will have to take it to a notary together. It is a renters’ market right now in Panama, so no need to rush into an agreement without checking that everything is to your satisfaction. All rents are negotiable.
Some landlords like to keep utilities in their name to make eviction easier if necessary. Your choice whether to have utilities in your name or the landlord’s.
Lots of other things to be aware of when renting. Perhaps you could be more specific in your question.
Good luck!

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StanleySankey
  4/22/2019 14:42 EST

Contrary to what is posted above.

It says clearly on the Miviot (Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning) website (posted 11 April 2019 - link below) that registration of rental contracts is mandatory and subject to sanctions if not registered. The government says it is to protect renters, but I am sure a big part of it is to make sure that landlords are actually paying tax on their rental incomes. Nevertheless it is worthwhile to do. On a rental contract I had in Las Tablas a few years ago, the owner was trying to charge for for water usage which is the responsibility of the landlord not the tenant. That was a 15 minute meeting at Miviot and they told read him the riot act followed with a suitable fine to reinforce his memory going forward.

You will find a Miviot office in every province.

Miviot can also supply a standardized rental contract, free of charge, to use should you wish.

Link to article (all in Spanish of course)
https://www.miviot.gob.pa/index.php/2019/04/11/continuan-los-registros-de-contratos-de-arrendamientos/

My unofficial translation of the article
==============
Registration of Lease contracts continues
April 11, 2019

If they do not comply, they will be sanctioned

More than 11 thousand 400 contracts have been registered during this administration before the General Management of Leases of the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning (Miviot), as established by Law 93 of October 4, 1974.

The General Director of Leasing of Miviot, Naydú Rudas, pointed out that the Law establishes that any lease contract must be formalized in writing, in the government format of said address, free of charge.

"Many people consider that registering contracts at said address is an option, but, on the contrary, this action is mandatory, and if they do not comply with it, they will be sanctioned," Rudas explained.

Rudas, mentioned that the staff of Leases has intensified the operations against clandestine rentals in order to eradicate this unfair activity and in turn to teach, since most tenants are unaware of their duties and rights.

The large number of clandestine rentals are located in the corregimientos of Parque Lefevre, Bella Vista, Rio Abajo, Betania and San Francisco, the latter being one of the places most prone to this illegal activity.

People can approach the Miviot and go to the general direction of Leases, where they will receive free advice on everything related to contracts, conflicts and lawsuits.

April 11, 2019

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