Bayraktar Attorneys drafts, reviews and negotiates rental contracts in Turkey for foreign tenants and landlords. Whether you are renting a home, taking a short-term let or letting out a property you own, we make sure the agreement is clear, lawful and protects your rights.
Turkish tenancy law has its own rules on deposits, rent increases, notice and eviction, and they are not always what newcomers expect. We explain them in plain English and put the right terms in writing before you sign.
Have an English-speaking lawyer check your rental contract before you sign. The first consultation is free and there is no obligation.
A rental contract is a legal agreement that sets out the terms between a landlord and a tenant. When it is written well, both sides know where they stand. When it is vague, small problems turn into expensive disputes.
We act for foreign tenants and for owners letting out property, and we help with:
Most rental disputes come from terms that were never written down clearly. We make sure your agreement is complete and leaves little room for argument. A good lease should set out:
Two of the most common questions from tenants and landlords are how much deposit is allowed and how much the rent can go up. Turkish law gives clear answers, and we make sure your contract follows them.
Under the Turkish Code of Obligations the deposit is generally capped at three months' rent. Where the deposit is a sum of money, the law expects it to be held properly rather than simply kept by the landlord, and it should be returned at the end of the tenancy once any genuine deductions are settled.
For residential leases, the annual increase at renewal is limited by law and generally linked to the consumer price index. A landlord cannot raise the rent by any figure they like. Where a landlord wants an increase beyond the legal limit, that generally requires a court process rather than a simple demand.
Many foreign clients are surprised that a landlord cannot end a tenancy or evict a tenant at will. Turkish law protects tenants, and a landlord may only bring a tenancy to an end on specific legal grounds, such as genuine personal need, certain defaults by the tenant, or after the long periods the law allows.
In most cases eviction requires a court decision or an enforcement process, not self-help. We advise landlords on the correct, lawful route to recover a property, and we defend tenants who are facing an eviction that is not properly grounded.
Not every tenancy is a standard home rental. We handle the different situations foreign clients meet in Turkey.
Short-term rentals are popular with visitors and expats taking a serviced apartment, a holiday home or a room in a shared flat. We prepare and review these agreements so your rights and obligations are clear for the short period involved, and so the arrangement meets Turkish requirements.
If you are renting premises for a business, the stakes are higher and the terms are more detailed. We negotiate commercial leases covering rent, term, fit-out, renewal and exit, and we align them with your plans, including any company you are setting up in Turkey.
We learn whether you are the tenant or the landlord, what property is involved and what you want from the lease.
We draft a new lease or review the one in front of you, and explain every important term in plain English.
We negotiate the rent, deposit, term, renewal and repair terms so the agreement is fair and workable.
We make sure the final contract is complete, lawful and correctly signed, so it stands up if a dispute arises.
We stay available for questions during the tenancy and step in on deposit returns, repairs, rent or eviction if problems come up.
We work with foreign tenants and landlords every day, entirely in English.
Whether you rent or let out, we know the terms that protect you.
We write leases that hold up, so you are covered if things go wrong.
We translate Turkish tenancy rules into plain, practical advice.
Atty. Nevzat Oğulcan Bayraktar
Confidential, English-speaking support for tenants and landlords across Turkey.
This page provides general information about rental contracts and Turkish tenancy law in Turkey and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, please contact Bayraktar Attorneys for a consultation.
