Resolving Landlord-Tenant Disputes in Türkiye: A Guide for Foreign Landlords

Renting out property in Türkiye is often straightforward — until a dispute arises. Foreign landlords, particularly those living abroad, can find Turkish tenancy law's protections for tenants unfamiliar, and disputes that would resolve quickly elsewhere can drag on if the landlord's side is not handled correctly from the outset.

Turkish Law Favors Procedure

Turkish tenancy law places real emphasis on formal notice and process. Ending a tenancy, raising rent, or evicting a tenant for non-payment each has its own required procedure and timeline, and a landlord who skips a step — even with good reason to act — can find the process delayed or the claim rejected outright. This is one of the most common frustrations for landlords used to a more informal system.

Common Dispute Scenarios

Non-payment of rent, disputes over the security deposit at the end of a tenancy, and disagreements about property condition or repairs are the most frequent sources of conflict. In each case, Turkish law and the courts place significant weight on written notice and documented communication — verbal agreements or informal understandings offer little protection if a dispute later reaches a Turkish court or enforcement office.

• Following the correct formal notice procedure before ending a tenancy
• Documenting property condition and communications in writing throughout the tenancy
• Understanding the specific process for pursuing unpaid rent through enforcement proceedings

A landlord who is clearly in the right can still lose time and leverage by using the wrong procedure to assert it.

How POA Helps

We advise foreign landlords on Turkish tenancy law, represent them in disputes with tenants, and help structure leases from the outset to reduce the likelihood of a dispute arising at all.