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Frequently Asked Questions  

1.                 Purchasing  Property  in  Turkey

2.                 Turkish  Laws

3.                 Tax  Situation?

4.                 Living Costs in Turkey

5.                 Healthcare

6.                 Banking

7.                 Utilities (Electricity / Water / Telephone)

8.                 Driving in Turkey

9.                 Renting / Selling your property in Turkey

10.             Crime Rate in Turkey

11.             Visiting Turkey – Visa Requirement

12.            Emigrating to Turkey

13.             Miscellaneous Information  

 1.  Purchasing  Property  in  Turkey

Is Turkey a good place to invest my money?
Currently prices in Turkey are very reasonable compared with other countries such as Spain and Portugal so owning property in Turkey is a great investment opportunity. Prices are constantly rising very fast so purchasing now is a good idea. Demand for properties and the drive towards Turkey’s full Membership of the EU is boosting the market confidence even further.

Experts are predicting anyone buying now will be able to double and even triple their investment within a few years. Buying a property in Turkey is a lot simpler now and living cost is cheap compared to the majority of European countries. NOW is the perfect time to make a good investment for your future

What can I buy?
Freehold property of land may be purchased by most foreign nationals, from a Turkish national or another foreigner, provided the property is in the local district "Belediye". We hold a full list of those Countries who have reciprocal agreements regarding property purchase with Turkey. We can also show the exact locations of these municipality areas.

If property or land is outside the Belediye long leases can be arranged. We use a leasing facility designed by two of Turkey's largest banks, Koc Bank & Garanti Bank. The property is purchased in the banks name who then lease it to the purchaser. The lease can subsequently be transferred to a third party if he/she wishes without restriction.

Are properties Freehold or Leasehold?
The properties are 100% freehold. Also, if the property is on a complex, then you will own a share of the land the complex sits on.

If I buy a property within a complex how much would I have to pay yearly for service charge or maintenance?

Maintenance costs for complexes vary from complex to complex but are usually from £200 - £400  per year for the upkeep of the communal areas.

How many properties can I purchase in turkey?

You can purchase as many properties as you want.

How long does it take to transfer the property in my name?

It can take up to 3 months for the Title Deeds to come through. When this happens, the property will be officially registered in your name.

How do I pay for the property?

It is advised that funds for the purchase should be transferred into the country through a Turkish bank and specifically identified for that purpose. The foreign currency should be sufficient to cover both the purchase cost plus other costs incidental to the purchase. You should keep all receipts to prove the original purchase to enable easy repatriation. A recent decree aimed at aligning Turkey's currency laws with the EU states that importation of foreign currency is free, it cannot be subject to any legislation and it's origins cannot be questioned. Decree 32, August 1989 Article 4.0.

How do I know when to make payments if I buy a property?

This will be detailed in the sale agreement very clearly. As soon as the payments have been received you will be sent a receipt.  

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Do I have to use a solicitor if I buy a property?

Technically No, however we will not sell any property to clients without using a solicitor. This is to protect our clients and have the guarantee that everything is done legally. This is peace of mind for the client and for us and only costs around £600.

Are there exra costs?

Yes, with some purchases from developers all costs (excluding lawyers fees) are included, but with individual properties and some small developers only the purchase price is shown. This is always made clear on promotion material. The extra charges involved for a freehold or leasehold purchase payable by the purchaser can amount to up to 10% of the purchase price paid at the very top end.

It must be noted that the sales price for leasehold properties will be subject to a 5.5% lease arrangement fee.

Are there any annual taxes that have to be paid?

Yes there are 3 different taxes:

a)     Community tax, approximately £8 for the year, paid either annually or bi-annually for local services.

b)     Real Estate Tax of 0.1% on the declared value of the property.

c)     Government earthquake insurance policy between £20 - £60 per year.  

Can I have more than one name on the Title Deeds?

You can have as many names as you wish on the Title Deeds. You will need to provide copies of passport, full names and addresses of all the persons whose names are to appear on the Title Deeds.

What kind of taxes will I need to pay when I purchase a property?

A Buyers Property tax, which will be approx 1.5% to 3% of the sale agreement price depending on the location. A Government tax of approx. £100. A Property tax of 1% of property price. We will provide a list of all charges before you decide to purchase.

Before purchase should I get the property surveyed?

Recently a law was passed whereby all new properties had to be surveyed. However, older properties can be surveyed independently. If you wish we can arrange this for you. 

Can I give Power of Attorney to my solicitor so that he can take care of all the legal formalities?

Yes, when you give a power of attorney to your solicitor, he or she will apply for the title deed on buyer’s behalf and secures the property until the title deed is received. The solicitor will also purchase State earthquake insurance which is required by law.

Why do buyers pay 3% agent fee ?

According to Turkish real estate regulations, registered real estate agencies are entitled to receive 3% service fee from buyers and sellers.  

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2. Turkish  Laws

Does the Turkish Government have any claim to my property should I die?

No, the Turkish Government does not have any claim to your property. The same rules apply as in English law in that either the husband or wife will inherit otherwise it will pass equally to the children.

I have been told by a friend that the Turkish Government gets a share in each property that foreigners purchase – is this true?

No, it is not true. The Turkish Government has no share or stake or claim on any property that is bought by foreigners or Turkish citizens. The property purchased will belong 100% to the person whose name is on the Title Deeds.

Are there any laws in Turkey regarding “Land Grab” – like Spain?

No there are no such laws in Turkey.

3. Tax  Situation?

Do I pay any Capital Gains Tax when I sell the property?

Capital gains made from the sale of a property will be taxable in Turkey if the owner is a Company. Individuals do not have to pay capital gains, provided they have owned the property for four years. In the UK capital gains may be taxable depending on the individual’s situation. Current tax conditions were originally agreed in a double taxation treaty signed in 1986. These were amended in October 1988 and cover the reciprocal agreement relation to income tax and corporation tax in Turkey and income, corporation and capital gains taxes in the UK.

4. Living Costs in Turkey 

What is the cost of living in Turkey compared to the UK?

About half of the UK cost of living.

How much would all the utilities bills cost in a year?

It depends on how much you use but generally Water, Electricity and Gas would cost about half compared to the UK.

Are the Utilities expensive in Turkey?

Gas cylinders are normally used for cooking and can also be used for water heating. Cylinder refills cost approximately £10.00 (a deposit is taken for each gas cylinder) and lasts approximately a month for water heating and 2-3 months for cooking.

Electricity is cheap approximately £0.05p a kilowatt. Bills are payable monthly at a local banks or directly to the Turkish Electricity Board.

Water costs approximately £0.40p per ton (1,000 litres on mains supply) or £3.00 per ton when bought from a bulk tanker.

Site maintenance, groups of houses, particularly developments will form a management service, committee or company, to maintain common facilities, common gardens, repainting, etc. The cost of this will vary from development to development, but generally starts at around £200.00 per annum. Their conduct is governed by Turkish law.  

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5. Healthcare

What is the standard of healthcare in Turkey?

The standard is normally very good. All foreigners have to pay for medical treatment but you can arrange private medical insurance from the UK for short visits or in Turkey if you are staying for a long term.

Most hospitals are private and have a good standard of equipment and qualified staff and best part of all they will not keep you waiting!

What are the doctors like in Turkey?

Doctors are well trained and most doctors speak English.

Are there any hospitals and schools in the districts of major cities as well?

In most of the districts there are at least two fully equipped private hospitals and one government hospital.

In each main town there is at least one private college (primary and high schools) mainly with English as primary language and Turkish government schools. There are also many kinder gardens.

6. Banking

Can I open a bank account easily in Turkey?

Yes very easily. We will assist you with this. You will need to take your passport and Tax Number with you for the accounts to be opened. You can open an account in Turkish Lira, Stirling, Euros or Dollars. Setting up a bank account is also useful for paying utility bills via direct debit

7. Utilities (Electricity / Water / Telephone)

What is the electricity voltage?

It is same as the UK - 220 volts.

How do I get electricity and water to my house?

If you purchase a new house then with the residence permits of the property, copy of Tapu (Title Deeds) and your passport you need to apply to Tedas for electricity and to Gatab for water.

The cost for new accounts are approximately as follows:

Electricity – New Account approx 120€

Water New Account approx 50 € PLUS Sewage infrastructure fee 75 €  

If you purchase an old building with an existing account, you just need to get the account number and copy of passport and Tapu (Title Deeds). In this case the costs are as follows:

Electricity register transfer fee of 40 €

Water register transfer fee of  35 €

Should I install ceiling fans or air conditioning units – which is better?

It is definitely worth installing air conditioning units. In Turkey, an air conditioning unit for the bedroom will cost £250 to £450 depending on the room size, and an air conditioning unit for the living room will cost £450 to £750, once again depending on the room size. Most air conditioning units are split units which means they blow cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter.

I noticed some properties have Solar Heating Panels – Can these be used in Winter?

Solar heating panels are used in the summer months to heat water. They are environmentally and economically a good idea. However, on overcast days or on cold winter days, a backup electric heating water system would also be required.  

Is the tap water safe to drink?

Taps water has a high mineral content which will upset your stomach. We recommend you drink bottled water at all times. Bottled water is very cheap!

Can I have a telephone installed in my house?

If you have a residency visa, you can have a telephone installed. Otherwise you can use your own mobile phone and replace the SIM card with a Turkish pay as-you-go SIM card available from many phone shops.

If you have residency you can apply for a telephone at Turk Telekom and you will be  connected the next day, depending on availability in your area. Lines are generally good and Internet access easy and well serviced.

Can I have telephone / satellite line registered on my name?

Upon receipt of the title deed (Tapu) you need to apply to the Turkish Consulate in your country for a 1-year visa. Upon receipt of that, when you come to Turkey, you need to apply to the district’s Foreign Police Department for a residence permit (5 years) which costs approx. 500 Euro. Upon receipt of residence permit called the (blue book) you can get a telephone/satellite line registered on your name. We will, of course, assist you with this procedure.

8. Driving in Turkey

Can I rent or buy a car in Turkey?

You can rent a car in Turkey providing you have a valid driving license from your own country. We highly recommend that you hire a car first to see what it is like before buying one.

What are the road conditions like for driving in Turkey?

Generally the main roads are good and driving in Turkey is on the right hand side of the road. Be very careful as not all drivers observe the highway codes, especially at round abouts!

How can I buy a car or a motorbike registered in my name?

This is the procedure to get a vehicle you bought in Turkey registered in your name:

1)     Obtain your residency and get a residence permit (Blue Book)

2)     Apply to the Traffic Police Deaprtment to get a “MA” plate Misafir Araç – Guest plate and the vehicle book.

If you want to import your car to Turkey you will need to pay the tax assigned by the Turkish Customes Office to the Local Authorities.

We do not recommend bringing your car to Turkey as the taxes for importing cars into Turkey are very high.

9. Renting / Selling your property in Turkey?

If we sell our property can we take all of our money out of Turkey?

Yes you can take all your money out of Turkey. Our recommendation is to do this via a bank account so that money is recorded leaving and entering Countries.

Can I rent my property?

Yes. We can assist you in renting your property. Contact us for details on how we can assist you in renting your property.  

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Is my rental income subject to tax?

Rental income is liable for tax assessment in either the UK or Turkey and will be payable depending on your personal situation. We recommend you check with your accountant.

Can I sell my property and what are the costs for selling?

Resale costs are approx 5% and property may be sold to Turkish, or foreign nationals without restriction. Because of the change in law the lira is now convertible so proceeds of the sale of a property can be converted to whatever currency and subsequently transferred to any country you choose.

10. Crime Rate in Turkey

What is the Crime Rate in Turkey?

Crime Rate in Turkey is very low, when compared to UK or Spain. People who buy properties situated in complexes also have the added bonus of 24 hour security.

Should I insure my property?

We would recommend that you should insure your property as you would in the your Country with both house and content insurance.

11. Visiting Turkey – Visa Requirement

Where do I get a Visa to visit Turkey?

You can get a Visa at the airport when you arrive in Turkey. The cost of the visa is £10.

Do I need to pay £10 every time I come to Turkey?

When you enter Turkey you will need to pay £10 per person for the Visa. You can get a Multiple Entry Visa for the same money. This is valid for 3 months and means that you can return to Turkey as many times as you like within the 3 month period.

If I own a property in Turkey is there a limit to the number of times I can come to Turkey to use it?

No, there is no limit. You can come to Turkey as many times as you like.

12. Emigrating to Turkey

Is it possible to stay in Turkey for a long term?

Yes, it is possible. You will need to get a Residency Permit. The Turkish Embassy in your Country can advise you on the procedure. It is an easy procedure to get a Residency Permit for up to 5 years and currently the cost is approx 500 Euros.

Can I work in Turkey?

In order to work in Turkey you will need to apply for a Work Permit from the Authorities.

We are moving to Turkey and want to bring our furniture with us – is this a good idea?

The cost of furniture is very reasonable and we recommend you sell your furniture and use that money to buy new furniture here in Turkey. We would also advise against bringing electrical goods into Turkey as the you will be taxed heavily when entering Turkey.

13. Miscellaneous Information

Are UK newspapers available in Turkey?

Most UK papers that arrive the next day, there is a national daily newspaper printed in English, the Turkish Daily News.

Can I get UK Radio Programmes?

A short-wave radio is useful to pick up the BBC World service.

Can I get English TV in Turkey?

Yes, you can get channels such as BBC World, BBC Prime, CNN and Eurosport through Satellite or Cable.

Television reception is good and if you subscribe to Digiturk Satellite system you will receive 52 channels including MGM, Movie Max 1&2, BBC Prime, Discovery Channel, Euro sport, CNN world news, etc.

Can I take my pets with me to Turkey?

Yes, you must first obtain a pet passport and vet certificate.

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