Buying property in Turkey from the UK: a practical checklist

You can buy property in Turkey without moving there, and much of the process can be handled while you stay in the UK. The steps below are the ones our clients most often ask about.

1. Check the property before you pay anything

Ask for a copy of the title deed (tapu) and have it checked at the land registry. You want to know who the registered owner is, whether there is a mortgage, lien or seizure on the property, and whether the building has the correct permits, including an occupancy certificate (iskan) for finished buildings. A property that looks cheap often has a problem in one of these places.

2. Get a Turkish tax number

Every buyer needs a Turkish tax number. It is free and quick to obtain from a Turkish tax office, or through a representative acting for you.

3. Decide whether you will travel or use a power of attorney

If you cannot be in Turkey for the transfer, you can appoint someone to act for you. A power of attorney can be prepared at a Turkish consulate in the UK, or by a UK notary and then apostilled and translated. Keep it specific to the property and the transaction.

4. Prepare for the transfer at the land registry

Foreign buyers normally need a valuation report from a licensed valuation company, and every residential property needs compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) before the title can be transferred. If you do not speak Turkish, a sworn interpreter must attend the signing.

5. Pay through the banking system

Pay the seller by bank transfer rather than in cash, and keep the records. You will need them later for tax, for any future sale, and to show where your money came from.

6. Budget for the costs

Allow for title deed fees, the valuation report, insurance, translation and any professional fees on top of the price. Ask for all costs in writing before you commit.

How we help: AY Consultancy guides UK-based clients through each of these steps, checks the documents with you, and works with licensed professionals in Turkey who carry out the formal parts of the transaction.

Disclaimer

This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change, so check the current position for your situation. AY Consultancy provides cross-border consultancy and does not carry out reserved legal activities in the United Kingdom. Formal legal steps in Turkey are carried out by licensed professionals there.