“Just arrived in Turkey and starting the process of renting property in Turkey? With hundreds of rental listings online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.” One question keeps echoing in your mind: “Where do I even start? Which listings are real? What steps do I need to take?”
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many newcomers, students, and even investors have stood exactly where you are now.
In this comprehensive guide from Aloproperty, we break down everything you need to know about renting property in Turkey—from visiting apartments and placing a deposit to signing a formal lease and receiving the keys. If you’re looking for a safe and reliable home to rent in Istanbul or any other city in Turkey, this article is exactly what you’ve been searching for.
The Process of Renting Property in Turkey
Renting property in Turkey involves several essential steps that every tenant should be aware of. Understanding these steps will help you navigate the rental process with greater confidence and clarity. Here is a brief overview of the key stages involved:
Visiting the property
Paying a deposit if you’re interested
Drafting the rental agreement
Making the final payment and receiving the official contract
Taking possession of the rental unit
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer and more practical look at each of these steps.
1. Viewing the Rental Property
The first step in the process of renting property in Turkey is visiting the property you’re interested in. There are several ways to arrange a viewing:
Browse reputable websites like Sahibinden and HepsiEmlak to explore rental listings.
Contact real estate agencies operating in the area directly.
Visit local real estate offices in person within the city.
While online platforms can be helpful when renting property in Turkey, it’s important to stay alert to fake listings and scammers pretending to be property owners. These types of listings can lead to serious financial losses.
With years of experience in property sales and renting property in Turkey, especially in Istanbul, Aloproperty offers a wide range of listings and expert consultation. You can visit the “Rentals” section on the Aloproperty website to explore current listings and schedule viewings with our consultants.
2. Paying a Deposit if You Like the Property
If you’re satisfied after visiting the property and decide to rent it, you’ll need to pay a deposit to reserve it. This deposit is typically equal to one month’s rent and serves to hold the unit until the official contract is signed.
🔸 Important: The deposit should only be transferred to the official property owner or a licensed real estate agency.
🔸 Tip: In the payment description, clearly state the property’s address and indicate that the payment is a rental deposit. This can help avoid legal issues later.
If you’re sure about renting the property, paying the deposit secures your priority in signing the contract and prevents the property from being rented to someone else.
3. Preparing the Rental Agreement
Once the deposit is paid, the next step is to prepare the rental agreement. If you’re working with a licensed real estate agency, the agent will draft the contract, including all necessary details such as:
Full names and ID details of the landlord and tenant
Contract duration
Monthly rent amount
Security deposit
Terms of termination and renewal
Both the landlord and tenant must read and sign the contract. It’s strongly recommended to have a legal expert or lawyer familiar with Turkish rental law and fluent in Turkish review the agreement to avoid future disputes.
4. Final Payment and Receiving the Official Contract
On the day the contract is signed, all remaining payments must be completed. These typically include:
First month’s rent
Security deposit
Real estate agency commission (if applicable)
🔹 Each payment should be made separately with clear descriptions.
🔹 It’s best to make all transfers from the tenant’s personal bank account directly to the landlord’s account to ensure transparency.
If the rental process is handled through an agent, the commission fee must be paid at the time of contract signing. Real estate agents have the right to withhold the official contract or keys until their commission is fully paid.
5. Property Handover
After signing the agreement and completing all payments, it’s time to receive the keys. The handover is usually done in the presence of the landlord (or their legal representative) and the real estate agent.
During the handover, be sure to:
Report any existing damages or issues in writing to the landlord on the same day.
Take photos or videos of the property and its furnishings (if furnished) and send them to the landlord as documentation.
If the property is furnished, make sure all appliances and items are functioning properly.
Additionally, be aware that you are expected to notify the landlord at least two months before the lease ends whether you plan to vacate or renew. This helps avoid misunderstandings or legal issues.
Important Tips When Renting Property in Turkey
Before renting property in Turkey, it’s essential to consider a few key points to avoid legal, financial, or time-related problems. These tips are especially important for those planning to apply for Turkish residency through a rental contract.
1. Choose the Location Based on Your Daily Needs
One of the most important decisions is selecting a location that matches your lifestyle and daily routine.
For example, if your workplace or university is located in Pendik on the Asian side of Istanbul, renting an apartment in Esenyurt on the European side could cost you up to six hours of commuting time each day. That means a significant loss of energy and time.
Similarly, if easy access to public transportation is a priority, avoid neighborhoods like Beykoz or some parts of Sarıyer, where metro and bus stations are limited. While this may be less of an issue in smaller Turkish cities, in Istanbul—which is the largest metropolis in Europe—transport accessibility is a serious consideration.
Tip: Before signing a rental agreement, analyze the area based on your daily routes, transportation costs, and access to essential services such as the metro, supermarkets, hospitals, and schools.
2. Take the Rental Agreement Seriously
The rental contract in Turkey is a legally binding document. If you’re not fluent in Turkish or unfamiliar with rental laws in Turkey, it’s crucial to seek help from a trusted real estate agent or an experienced lawyer.
Make sure the following points are clearly stated and understood in the contract:
Duration of the lease and start/end dates
Monthly rent and security deposit
Terms regarding renewal, termination, and penalties
Responsibility for repairs and additional costs
Renting property in Turkey without fully understanding the contract terms can lead to unexpected legal or financial issues—so always review the agreement carefully.
3. Legalizing the Contract at the Notary (Noter)
For your rental agreement to be officially recognized by Turkish government institutions—such as for immigration procedures or registering your address—you need to notarize it at a Noter (notary public).
🔹 The property owner or their legal representative must be present at the Noter office.
🔹 Notary fees are typically paid by the tenant.
🔹 If you do not speak Turkish, a certified interpreter is required during the notarization process.
By notarizing your lease, your renting process in Turkey becomes legally valid for residency applications and other official matters.
4. Inspect the Property and Verify the Owner’s Documents
Before finalizing the rental process and taking possession of the unit, be sure to:
Check all appliances and furniture if the property is furnished.
Report any damages or defects to the landlord in writing on the same day.
Take clear photos or videos of the property’s current condition.
If the unit is in a residence (residence-style complex), ask building management to confirm whether there are any unpaid dues or maintenance fees.
Verify the landlord’s ID and the official title deed (TAPU) of the property before signing the contract.
These precautions are essential to protect your rights when renting property in Turkey and to avoid potential disputes in the future.
5. Avoid Renting in Restricted Zones for Residency
According to recent Turkish regulations, certain neighborhoods with a high concentration of foreigners have been designated as restricted zones for residency applications. If your goal is to obtain a residence permit by renting property in Turkey, make sure the rental unit is not located in one of these prohibited areas.
To view the complete and updated list of restricted neighborhoods, refer to the article “Restricted Areas in Turkey for Foreign Residency” on the Aloproperty website.
6. Make Rent and Deposit Payments with Clear Descriptions
Always transfer the rent and deposit separately, and make sure to include clear payment descriptions. In the bank transfer details, be sure to specify:
The full name of the property or its exact address
The type of payment (e.g., Deposit / First month’s rent)
Rent Increase Rate for Lease Renewals – June 2025
According to the official announcement from the Turkish government, the maximum allowable rent increase for lease contracts renewed in June 2025 has been set at 45.8%.
🔸 This percentage represents the legal ceiling for rent hikes applicable to official contract renewals in that month.
🔸 Tenants whose leases expire in June 2025 can apply this rate when renewing their contracts.
The Turkish government announces the permitted rent increase rate separately each month. Therefore, the latest monthly rent increase rates will be regularly updated in this section on the Elomigrant website.
Law on Registering Rental Contracts in the e-Devlet System
Starting from August 2024, a new law passed by the Turkish government requires landlords to register rental contracts on the official e-Devlet platform.
According to this law:
Landlords must upload a copy of the signed rental contract to the e-Devlet system within 15 days of signing the lease.
This process is carried out in a specific section of the landlord’s user profile on e-Devlet.
What is the Purpose of This Law?
Experts believe that enforcing this regulation will:
Prevent tax evasion by some landlords;
Increase transparency in rental transactions nationwide;
Help stabilize and clearly define the real rental prices in each city, district, and neighborhood.
The Turkish government has announced that this law will be fully enforced starting in early 2025 and will apply to all valid rental contracts.
You are warmly invited to share your questions, comments, and experiences in the discussion and comment sections below each article. Our experts carefully review every message and are here to support you throughout your journey of renting or buying property in Turkey.
Our goal is to provide the best advice and up-to-date information to make your property rental or purchase process as smooth as possible. Whatever questions you have, don’t hesitate to ask—we’re here to help you make the best decisions.