Buying a property in Turkey: explaining incomprehensible words

When buying a villa or apartment in Turkey, you can come across unfamiliar words in documents. To avoid difficulties, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary that is characteristic of the Turkish real estate market.

TAPU

Let's imagine a situation: you have chosen an apartment and signed a sales contract. But that's not all. You need a document proving ownership - a tapu. It is issued by the Cadastral Office. The tapu contains information about the property and the owner: address, area, lot type, owner's photo, and information about them. The document is stamped and signed by an authorized person. To obtain it, you will need 2 colored photos, a passport (original and translated copy with notarization), and a tax number (issued by the tax office after submitting an application, but you need to provide your passport and current place of residence).

Iskan

The technical passport for a property in Turkey is called Iskan, and there are two types:

• Genel Iskan: Issued by the developer once. The document states that the house has been put into operation and meets the standards. If you purchase property at the excavating stage, this document is not issued.
• Ferdi Iskan: Issued for the purchased lot. The document is issued once when selling the apartment for the first time. In other words, apartments on the secondary market will already have Ferdi Iskan, it does not need to be reissued, but the owner's information needs to be updated.

If the technical passport for the property in Turkey is missing, it indicates violations during construction and debts of the developer company.

Aidat

Every month, you must pay for property maintenance. This payment includes:

• Services of the management company, gardener, security guard, janitor;
• Bills for water supply, gas supply, electricity in common areas (elevators, hallways, pools, garden);
• Maintenance of the yard, lawn, garden, pool.

The size of the aidat is determined by the owners of the residential complex at a meeting. It depends on the property area, infrastructure, and number of employees. Receipts can be obtained through the banking application or by email. It is necessary to pay on time. If delayed for 3 months, the management company can take the owner to court, which will result in a seizure of the property. Aidat can be paid for a year in advance or an account can be opened for automatic regular deductions.

DASK (Disaster Insurance)

DASK is compulsory earthquake insurance in Turkey. It is obtained for residential and commercial properties. The policy will cover all expenses.

Icra (Arrest)

Before buying an apartment or villa, it is necessary to check for any encumbrances, such as an arrest on the property (icra). It is imposed by court decision in cases of legal disputes related to the property or in case of debts to government institutions. To check if there is an arrest, you can contact the Tapu and Cadastre Office. The request can be made by a lawyer or the seller, and potential buyers will not be provided with this information.

Ikamet (Residence Permit)

If you plan to stay in Turkey for more than 3 months, you need to apply for a residence permit - Ikamet. It is issued for a period of 6 months with the possibility of extension. You need to fill out an online application on the website of the Directorate General of Migration Management. Then, an appointment will be scheduled for an interview. During the meeting, you should bring all the completed documents. If the decision is positive, the plastic card will be delivered by mail.

Still confused about the terms and documents? The experts at Kalinka will not only help you find a property in Turkey but also take care of all the hassle of the purchase and transfer of ownership, as well as assist with obtaining citizenship.