Rentals
The right tenant for your property. The right home for you.
We find your next home or the right tenant for your property, with serious screening and leases that make everything clear from day one.
Owner: how we place your tenant
A bad tenant costs far more than a month of vacancy: unpaid rent, damage, and a draining exit process. Our job is to make sure that never happens to you, with a placement process that skips no steps:
- 01
Rent valuation
We set the market rent using real comparables from your area and building. A correct rent leases in weeks; an inflated one piles up months of vacancy you never recover.
- 02
Preparation and listing
Professional photography and publication on vacagroup.net (EN/ES), the market's portals, our social channels, and our pool of active tenant leads, including corporate expats.
- 03
Showings and candidate screening
We show the property and screen every candidate: identity, income, references, and an interview. You only see the ones who pass, with our recommendation.
- 04
A clear lease
A lease with explicit rent, term, deposit, inventory, and maintenance responsibilities. No gray areas that cost money later.
- 05
Documented handover
A signed inventory with photo evidence and utility readings at move-in. At the end of the lease, that document protects your deposit and your property.
Don't want to handle collection, maintenance, and the tenant for the rest of the year? Add our monthly management:
See property management →Tenant: your next home without friction
We search with you — we don't leave you alone in front of a listing page. Here's how it works if you're looking to rent in Panama City:
- 1
We define your search
Budget, neighborhoods, move-in date, and your non-negotiables (pets, furnished, parking). We tell you what actually exists in your range.
- 2
Options and showings
An efficient showing schedule with pre-selected options, in person or by video if you're not in Panama yet.
- 3
Application and negotiation
We prepare your file so the owner says yes, and negotiate a fair rent and terms.
- 4
Signing and move-in
A reviewed lease, a signed move-in inventory, and support coordinating the move and utilities.
Why rent with Vaca Group
- Documented screening of every tenant: identity, income, references, and an interview.
- Bilingual reach: we cover the local market and the corporate expat searching in English.
- Leases and inventories that prevent disputes rather than manage them later.
- Licensed brokerage (Lic. PN 5904), ACOBIR member: real professional accountability.
- A natural continuation into monthly management if you live outside Panama.
What to know about renting in Panama
- The typical residential lease is 12 months, renewable by agreement between the parties.
- One month's deposit plus the first month's rent up front is standard.
- The tenant usually pays the utilities they consume; the owner pays property tax and HOA (PH) fees.
- Condo buildings usually require registering the tenant and the lease with the administration.
- In premium areas like Costa del Este or Punta Pacifica, corporate and expat demand keeps occupancy high year-round.
Information and fees reviewed as of July 2026 · Vaca Group Residential Market Study 2026-Q3.
Frequently asked questions about rentals
- How much does it cost to find a tenant for my property?
- We charge a one-time placement fee when the lease is signed; the amount is confirmed in writing before we list your property. It covers the rent valuation, photography, listing, showings, tenant screening and the lease itself. If you also want us to run the rental day to day (collection, maintenance, reports), that is our property management service, charged at 9%–10% of the monthly rent ($100/month minimum).
- How do you screen tenants?
- Every candidate goes through a documented filter: identity (ID or passport), ability to pay (employment letter, pay stubs or bank statements; for newly arrived foreigners we ask for equivalents from their home country), references from previous landlords where available, and an interview. We only present candidates who pass the filter, with our recommendation — the final decision is always yours.
- What lease term and deposit are standard in Panama?
- The typical residential lease in Panama City is 12 months, renewable. The tenant usually provides one month's deposit plus the first month's rent up front. The deposit answers for damage and unpaid bills at the end of the lease, and how it is held and returned is set out in writing in the contract together with the move-in inventory.
- I'm a tenant — what do I need to rent with you?
- A valid ID or passport, proof of income (an employment letter or, if you are self-employed or a foreigner, bank statements or other evidence of solvency), and the deposit plus first month at signing. If you've just arrived in Panama, don't worry: we work with expats every day and know what alternatives to present to the owner.
- Who pays for what during the lease?
- As a general rule in Panama: the tenant pays the utilities they consume, such as power and internet. Water always stays in the owner's name, but the tenant pays for it — unless the building includes water in its common expenses, in which case it is covered by the HOA (PH) fee. The owner pays the property tax and HOA (PH) fees, unless agreed otherwise. Minor wear-and-tear maintenance is usually on the tenant, while structural repairs and the property's own equipment are on the owner. Our leases make this split explicit to avoid disputes.
Have a property to rent out?
Tell us about your property and we'll get back to you within 24 hours with a rent proposal and next steps.