Tenant and landlord laws in Turkey are among the important topics that anyone planning to buy or rent property in the country should be familiar with. Given the booming real estate market and high influx of immigrants, Turkey has established clear and precise regulations to protect the rights of both tenants and landlords. These laws cover the process of drafting rental agreements, the rights and responsibilities of both parties, and the procedures for terminating the contract.
A lack of sufficient knowledge about these laws can lead to problems for individuals intending to rent out their property. In this article, we explore the tenant and landlord laws in Turkey for 2024 to help you make more informed decisions and avoid potential issues. By gaining full awareness and seeking advice from an independent Turkish legal consultant, you can better safeguard your interests.
Landlord Laws in Türkiye 2024
Although having a passport allows you to rent a house in Turkey, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the landlord-tenant laws before making any decisions.
For this purpose, a rental agreement is drawn up between you and the landlord, which both parties are required to sign. Similar to the practice in Iran, this rental contract must be prepared and registered with the relevant real estate agency. This ensures that in case of any disputes in the future, both you and the landlord can seek assistance from the real estate office to resolve the issue.
Setting up an official and valid lease according to Turkish laws
After drafting the rental agreement at the real estate agency, you must visit a notary office with the landlord to formalize the contract. To present the rental agreement to official institutions and organizations in Turkey, it must be notarized at a Turkish notary office.
In order to notarize the house rental contract, Kimlik information of both parties and the presence in the official offices are required.
Tips for setting up a lease in Türkiye

When drafting a rental agreement in Turkey, it is essential to consider the following points: the contract should consist of three pages, and all details regarding rent payments and related conditions must be clearly stated.
Additionally, the rental agreement should clearly and precisely outline the terms and conditions for the return of the security deposit. If the property is furnished, all items must be listed in detail in the rental contract.
In Turkey, rental agreements are typically drafted for a duration of one year, and longer-term contracts are not accepted.
Make sure to have the rental agreement notarized to ensure it is official. The landlord’s presence at the notary is mandatory for the contract’s preparation. Additionally, if you do not speak Turkish, the presence of a sworn official translator at the notary is required.
Duties of the lessor towards the lessee according to Turkish law
- Payment of all anticipated and unforeseen expenses of the rented property.
- The tenant can request the landlord to fix any deficiencies within a reasonable time. If the landlord fails to address the issue within the specified period, the tenant may resolve the deficiency themselves and reduce the rent accordingly.
- Payment of all taxes and insurance related to the rented properties.
- In case of delay in rent payment, the tenant cannot be responsible for the penalty clause.
- The tenant may request the landlord to fix the deficiency within a reasonable time. If the landlord does not address the issue within the specified period, the tenant can repair it themselves and reduce the costs associated with renting the property.
Duties of the tenant towards the property owner according to Turkish law
- The tenant must return the property to the landlord in the same condition as it was received, but is not responsible for facilities that have become obsolete or no longer in use.
- If the tenant wants to make any changes to the property, he must obtain written permission from the landlord.
- If the tenant does not pay the property rent, the landlord can cancel the contract.
- If no other time is specified in the contract, the rent is paid at the end of the month.
- Paying rent is one of the most important duties of the tenant.
Tenant eviction rules in Türkiye
- Expiration of the lease term
- If the owner has sold the property
- Willingness to make repairs or changes to the property
- Tenant’s frequent delay in paying rent
- The landlord or a first-degree relative needs housing
– Expiration of the lease period for the tenant and the owner
When the tenant’s specified duration of use of the property ends, a new contract must be signed unless both parties agree to extend the existing contract.
– If the owner has sold the property
- If an agreement has been made with the tenant previously, a time limitation is not necessary; however, this agreement must be in writing and signed in the presence of two witnesses.
- If a legal agreement has not been made with the tenant before the sale of the property, the ownership deed must include details based on the conditions of the lease contract. Otherwise, a notice must be sent to the tenant within one month from the date of the property transfer.
- If no notice is sent within one month, it means that the lease agreement prior to the sale is accepted.
- The old lessor must transfer the insurance amount to the new lessor.
Your common questions about selling property in Türkiye

In Turkey, property owners can sell their homes, but this is subject to certain conditions and regulations. If the tenant has a lease agreement, the owner cannot sell the property without prior notice to the tenant and must adhere to the terms and conditions of the lease. If the tenant does not have a lease agreement, the owner must notify the tenant before selling the property and address any potential issues with them. In general, it is advisable for property owners to maintain communication with their tenants and make any decisions in coordination with them to avoid problems for both parties.
- Can the owner cancel the lease when selling the house?
In Turkey, the property owner can terminate the lease agreement when selling the property, but this action must be in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. To terminate the lease agreement, the owner must first notify the tenant and provide them with sufficient time to vacate the property. If the tenant wishes, they can sign a new lease agreement with the new owner and continue residing in the property. Otherwise, the tenant must vacate the property within the agreed-upon timeframe.
Additionally, if tenants have long-term lease agreements, the property owner must respect the tenant’s rights before selling the property and either fulfill the contract or come to an agreement with the new tenant. In general, when selling a property, the termination of the lease agreement must be carried out in accordance with the relevant lease laws and regulations in Turkey.
- Should the owner pay the new tenant the salary of the previous tenant?
In Turkey, if the property owner terminates the lease agreement with the previous tenant and intends to rent the property to a new tenant, they must pay the new tenant the rights of the previous tenant. These rights include any outstanding amounts such as the deposit, insurance, or repairs that the previous tenant made to the property but have not yet been paid.
This matter is mentioned in Article 344 of the Turkish Civil Code. Additionally, if the new tenant agrees, the owner can sign a new contract with them and set the new terms for renting the property. In general, the landlord is obliged to settle the rights of the previous tenant and, if a new contract is made with the new tenant, they must specify the terms of the new lease agreement.
– Willingness to make repairs or changes in the property
If the property owner needs repairs or renovations to maintain the value of the property, they can carry out such work; however, under these circumstances, renting the property to the previous tenant is prohibited, and this prohibition lasts for a period of three years.
– Tenant’s frequent delay in paying rent
The reason why the property owner is allowed to terminate the contract and evict the tenant is that the purpose of the contract is mutual benefit between the parties.
Failure to pay rent on time or repeated delays in payment by the tenant may result in the loss of ownership rights for the landlord. As a result, the landlord has the right to terminate the rental agreement and evict the tenant.
– The landlord or a first-degree relative needs housing
If the property owner or a first-degree relative needs the property for housing purposes, they are allowed to terminate the rental agreement. In this case, the owner cannot lease the property to anyone other than the previous tenant for a period of three years.
Cancellation of the contract by the tenant

Terms of buying a property with a tenant in Türkiye
To avoid such issues, it is advisable for the landlord to inform the tenant before selling the property, so the tenant can either vacate the house or, with the new owner’s coordination, continue their stay. This will help both the tenant and the new owner avoid potential problems in the future.
The issue between tenants and landlords has recently become one of the main topics in Turkey, and unfortunately, many people cover news around this subject without offering solutions. Important note: We recommend that these matters, including obtaining an eviction order, be handled by a Turkish lawyer to ensure the process moves forward more efficiently.
New regulations on property purchases in Turkey have created one of the common problems: tenants occupying a newly purchased property. As a result, some owners may face challenges in evicting the tenant from their newly acquired home. This issue often arises when the tenant does not have a formal lease agreement.
As a new home owner, you have the right to receive an order to vacate the unit, however, this issue is not done at once and must go through an administrative process.
How to get a tenant eviction order in Türkiye?
After the title deed transfer, you have one month to send a notice to the tenant via a notary. After receiving the notice, the government provides the tenant with a legal period of 6 months to vacate the property. Therefore, you should consider a minimum of a 7-month time frame to evict a tenant from such a property.
Final word..
Important note for home owners and tenants in Türkiye:
Due to high inflation, the rent increase rate cannot be more than 25% according to Turkish court order.
According to Turkish News, this action was taken after the rise in property prices and rental rates in Turkey raised concerns, and the Turkish government committed to addressing the issue.