Laws for renting an apartment in Turkiye

To rent an apartment, you sign a contract for a year. The contract always specifies the amount that the landlord plans to receive per year (price per year) + deposits made for the safety of the apartment and furniture.

By law, before the end of the contract, the owner sends you an eviction notice, if he does not plan to renew the contract.

By default, the contract is extended for another year with an increase in TÜFE payment (but this year is limited to a 25% increase).

❓ If I paid for a year in advance, but I was not given a residence permit, will the owner return the payment?

By law, the host does not have to refund your payment, it is your choice to pay in advance. You have signed an annual contract in which you agreed to pay for a year in advance and simply paid it all at once, not monthly. The essence of this does not change.

Humanly yes, the owner can show goodwill.

❓ What does "a contract for a year" mean?

 You must live in the apartment for a year (12 months) and pay for all of them.

❓ Is there a risk in paying the rent in cash?

Payment through the bank is the confirmation that you really pay for the apartment - and by law you have to pay through the bank.

By paying in cash without a receipt, the owner can say that you did not pay any money.

❓ Is the rent in the last month (two months) covered by deposits?

In Turkey - NO! This is a common practice in the CIS countries, but in Turkey you pay for ALL months. The deposit is returned only after the termination of the rental agreement.

❓ Can the host come during the contract?

No, this is prohibited by law. For the duration of the contract, the apartment is considered to be tennant’s.

For example, even if a pipe burst in the apartment while the tennant is on vacation, the owner cannot enter inside.

❓ Do I have to pay the full amount of the contract if I leave before it ends?

According to the law, yes, but in reality, after 6 months of rent, usually the owners / realtors go to a settlement meeting and agree to terminate the contract earlier. The owner may not go to the meeting and this is his legal right. Then you have to live and pay until the end of the contract.

Discuss this with the landlord before signing the contract.

⚠ You must notify the landlord about the end of the contract 1 or 2 months in advance - this is written in your rental contract.

❓ How is the contract terminated?

• You notify the landlord in writing or orally (but better in writing) that you are moving out on a certain date.

• Pay for the last month.

• At the end of the contract, you meet with the landlord, the landlord checks the apartment for the safety of everything.

• You terminate the contract by simply crossing out the contract or by signing an eviction document.

  
  

• Your deposits are returned to you (or not returned).