Rental & property dispute assistance

What are the most common rental disputes?

Most disputes between tenants and landlords in Turkey arise from unlawful or hasty eviction attempts, a landlord's refusal to return the security deposit at the end of the contract, claims over unpaid or overdue rent, or attempts to impose a rent increase beyond the legal limits or to set rent in a foreign currency. Disputes also frequently arise from unwritten or undocumented lease contracts, where it later becomes difficult to prove the terms of the original agreement between the parties.

What are your basic rights as a tenant or landlord in Turkey?

Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 regulates the tenancy relationship in detail, setting clear rules to protect both parties. A landlord may not evict a tenant themselves, by force, or by changing the locks; ending a lease or evicting a property requires following the defined legal procedures, whether through formal legal notification or through the courts when a dispute arises.

Regarding the deposit amount, the law requires the landlord to hold it in a specific manner that protects the tenant, and the landlord may not withhold it without a documented legal reason when the contract ends.

Regarding rent increases, the law sets a mechanism tied to the inflation rate, which is not left solely to the landlord's discretion. Setting rent in a foreign currency, or tying it to an exchange rate, is also prohibited under the regulations protecting the value of the Turkish lira, for contracts between residents of Turkey on properties inside the country, with limited exceptions that do not cover most ordinary residential contracts.

Since September 2023, mediation (arabuluculuk) has become a mandatory step before most rental lawsuits can be filed with the courts, specifically for disputes over overdue rent and compensation arising from the tenancy relationship, before going to court. The competent court for hearing rental disputes in Turkey is the Civil Court of Peace (Sulh Hukuk Mahkemesi).

Key points to know

• An unwritten verbal contract remains legally binding in Turkey, but it makes proving the terms of the original agreement (such as the rent amount or the contract's duration) much harder when a dispute arises, so it is always advisable to obtain a written, documented contract
• Ignoring an eviction notice or a legal claim without specialist advice may cause you to miss important legal deadlines or lose rights that could have been defended
• Informal agreements over the deposit amount, without documentation, a receipt, or a clear bank transfer, make it difficult later to prove the amount paid or claim its return

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord evict a tenant without going to court or following official procedures? No. The landlord may not evict the tenant by force or unilaterally. The official legal path must be followed, whether through formal notification or through the judicial or enforcement procedures set out in the law.

Is a verbal (unwritten) contract legally binding in Turkey? Yes, a verbal contract is binding in principle, but it makes it much harder to prove the details of the agreement when a dispute occurs, which is why documenting the contract in writing is important for protecting both parties.

Is mediation mandatory before filing a rental lawsuit in Turkey? Yes, since September 2023 mediation has become a prerequisite before filing most lawsuits arising from the tenancy relationship, such as claims for overdue rent and compensation, before going to the Civil Court of Peace.

What happens if the landlord demands a rent increase exceeding the legal limit or in a foreign currency? The tenant is not obligated to accept an increase beyond the defined legal mechanism, and setting rent in a foreign currency is prohibited in principle in contracts between residents of Turkey. Such demands can be legally challenged.

Last updated: 2026-09-07