Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most, on the phone and across the table. The answers stay at the level of documents and regulation; call us for anything specific to your property.
How does the free valuation work?
We visit the property and weigh it against comparable sales in the same neighbourhood, along with the floor, aspect, building age and zoning status, then leave you a written valuation note. This opening valuation is free and commits you to nothing — it is not the formal appraisal a bank asks for during a mortgage application.
Which documents are needed for a title deed transfer?
Identity documents for buyer and seller, the property's title deed details, and the building's compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) policy. The application is made through the Land Registry's Web-Tapu system or by calling 181; both parties attend the registry office together on the appointment day. Having the documents ready beforehand is the one thing that lets the transfer finish the same day.
What is an occupancy permit (iskan) and why does it matter?
It is the municipality's confirmation that the building was completed in line with its permit and approved plans. Without one, electricity, water and gas connections cannot be made permanent, and the building cannot move to condominium ownership. Asking whether a flat has one rules out, at the outset, one of the hardest problems to fix later.
What is the difference between construction servitude and condominium ownership?
Construction servitude (kat irtifakı) is a right established over a unit in a building that is not yet finished; it converts to condominium ownership (kat mülkiyeti) once the building is complete and has its occupancy permit. Both appear on the title deed, but condominium ownership shows the flat actually exists and can be used. Law no. 634 governs the transition.
How do I find out the zoning status of a plot or building?
With the block and parcel numbers, you request a zoning status certificate from the planning department of the relevant municipality. It sets out the building conditions: number of storeys, setback distances, and the floor area ratios. Parcel details are also available through the e-Devlet parcel query. Never commit to buying land without seeing this document.
What should I check on the title deed record before buying?
The encumbrances section. Mortgages, attachments, sale-promise annotations and easements all appear there; some block the transfer, others pass to the new owner. The owner or their representative can view the record through Web-Tapu. We run this check on every property in our portfolio before we show it.
How is a building assessed as risky under urban renewal?
The owner applies to an organisation licensed by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, which inspects the building and issues a report. The report is assessed under Law no. 6306, the outcome is recorded on the title deed and served on the owners. A joint application by all owners is not required — a single owner can apply.
Why does the handover report matter in a tenancy?
The handover report puts the state of the flat in writing at the moment it changes hands: meter readings, fixtures, paintwork and plumbing. Most disputes at the end of a tenancy come from nobody having written anything down at the start. Both parties sign it as an annex to the contract and each keeps a copy.
What is an estate agency licence for?
Under Turkey's Real Estate Trade Regulation, anyone trading in property must hold a licence from the Ministry of Trade. The licence shows the business is subject to inspection and authorised to enter into agreements, and its number can be checked. Working with someone who holds none leaves you without recourse if a dispute arises.
Not the question you had?
A few minutes on the phone covers what is specific to your property.