Panama
Renting & Tenant Rights
Last verified August 15, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Security Deposit Goes to the Government, Not the Landlord
- Under Panama's Ley 93 de 1973 (the general rental law), a landlord who collects a security deposit (typically one month's rent) is required to deposit those funds with the Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning (MIVIOT), not just hold onto them personally, and give the tenant the deposit receipt.
- Landlords are also required to file a copy of the signed rental contract with MIVIOT's General Directorate of Rentals within 5 business days of signing.
Rent Increase Controls Only Apply to Cheap Units
- Rent-increase restrictions under Ley 93 only bind housing renting for around $150/month or less; any increase on those units needs MIVIOT's express authorization.
- Typical expat-oriented apartments in Panama City or other popular areas rent far above that figure, so in practice you're negotiating rent increases directly with your landlord rather than relying on a statutory cap.
The Gotcha
The deposit-with-MIVIOT and contract-filing requirements technically apply across the board, not just to cheap units, but enforcement in practice is inconsistent, and plenty of landlords (especially for higher-end expat rentals) skip the government filing step entirely. Don't assume your deposit is sitting with the Ministry of Housing just because the law says it should be; ask directly and get the receipt in your own name.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Ley 93 de 1973 (Ley de Arrendamientos) (Órgano Judicial de Panamá)