Long-Term Rentals in St Maarten: A Buy-to-Let Guide (2026)
Long-term renting in St Maarten trades the higher headline income of Airbnb for steadier, lower-effort returns. Your tenants are residents, expats, and workers on annual leases rather than a rotating calendar of guests. It means less management, more predictable cash flow, no nightly-rate seasonality, and different tax treatment. It suits an owner who wants a hands-off income property over a hospitality business. The Dutch side's no-annual-property-tax setting helps the math either way.
- Long-term let means annual-lease tenants, not a rotating short-term calendar.
- Steadier, more predictable income and far less day-to-day management than Airbnb.
- No nightly-rate seasonality, but a lower headline yield than a well-run short-term unit.
- Rental income is still taxable; the Dutch side's no annual property tax helps the math.
Long-term vs short-term: which pays?
Both work in St Maarten, they are just different businesses. A well-run short-term Airbnb can post a higher headline yield, but it is a hospitality operation with cleaning, turnovers, guest messaging, and seasonality. A long-term rental trades some of that upside for steady, predictable income and far less effort: one tenant, an annual lease, and a quiet calendar. I host short-term myself, so I will not oversell either, the right one depends on how hands-on you want to be.
If you want an income property rather than a second job, long-term is often the better fit.
Who rents long-term in St Maarten?
| Tenant type | What they want |
|---|---|
| Working residents | A solid annual home near work and schools. |
| Expats and relocators | A year or more while they settle, often before buying. |
| Remote workers | Space, reliable internet, and a real neighborhood. |
This is a real, year-round pool of tenants that does not depend on the tourist season. A well-located, well-kept unit in a spot like Simpson Bay or Cole Bay rents steadily to people who actually live here.
What does long-term renting involve?
The appeal is simplicity. One good tenant on an annual lease means no nightly pricing, no turnover cleaning, no calendar to babysit. Your job becomes screening well, keeping the place maintained, and handling the occasional issue. It is closer to a passive income property than the hospitality grind of short-term. For an overseas owner especially, that lower-touch model is often more realistic than running an Airbnb from another time zone.
Compare it against the short-term case in my guide to buying an Airbnb here.
What about tax and the numbers?
Rental income from a St Maarten property is taxable and must be declared, whether the let is long or short term, and I cover that in my guide to rental income tax. Note that the short-term room tax and turnover-tax picture is different from long-term residential letting, so confirm your situation with a tax advisor. On the plus side, the Dutch side charges no annual property tax, which helps the holding math on a long-term unit just as it does on a short-term one.
Is a long-term rental right for me?
It fits an owner who wants steady, lower-effort income over a higher-effort hospitality business, or an overseas buyer who cannot realistically run a nightly calendar from home. It fits a solid, well-located unit that residents actually want to live in. If you want maximum yield and are willing to run the operation, short-term may pay more. If you want a quiet income property, long-term is often the smarter buy. For whether the island fits at all, see is St Maarten a good investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is long-term or short-term renting better in St Maarten?
They are different businesses. A well-run short-term Airbnb can post a higher headline yield but takes real hospitality work and has seasonality. Long-term renting gives steadier, lower-effort income from annual-lease tenants. The right one depends on how hands-on you want to be.
Who rents long-term in St Maarten?
Working residents, expats and relocators settling in (often before buying), and remote workers. It is a real, year-round tenant pool that does not depend on the tourist season, especially in convenient areas like Simpson Bay or Cole Bay.
Is long-term rental income taxable in St Maarten?
Yes. Rental income from a St Maarten property must be declared whether the let is long or short term. The short-term room and turnover tax picture differs from long-term residential letting, so confirm your situation with a tax advisor.
Does long-term renting need less management?
Generally yes. One tenant on an annual lease means no nightly pricing, no turnover cleaning, and no calendar to manage, compared with the ongoing hospitality work of a short-term rental. That lower-touch model suits overseas owners especially.
Do I still pay annual property tax on a rental?
No. The Dutch side charges no annual property tax, which helps the holding math on both long-term and short-term rentals. You do pay buyer closing costs when you purchase and tax on the rental income you earn.
