The unique natural beauties and quality of life in Alanya encourage many people to settle here or live here for a while. Renting an apartment is the most important step in this process.
However, the complexity of legal procedures and cultural differences can present some difficulties, especially for foreign nationals. If you want to rent an apartment in Alanya, there are some important points to consider. Especially for foreign nationals, knowing the legal and practical details is crucial for a smooth rental process.
What should the rental contract look like?
The rental agreement is a document that sets out all the rights and obligations between the tenant and the owner. Although rental contracts in Turkey do not have to be in written form, it is safest for both parties if the contract is in a written form and contains the signatures of both parties. The following points should be noted in the contract:
- Landlord: It is important to check the details of the landlord’s identity and the land register entry.
- Real estate agent: If you are working with a real estate agent, you should check the registration certificate and carefully read all clauses in the contract.
- Rental price and method of payment: The rental price, payment terms and methods should be clearly stated in the contract. The bank details to which payments are to be made should also be clarified.
- Deposit: As a rule, the landlord requires a deposit from the tenant. The deposit is usually double the monthly rent and is returned to the tenant at the end of the rental period if no damage has been caused to the apartment.
- Duration of the rental agreement: The duration of the rental agreement (e.g. 1 year) and the expiration date of the rental agreement must be clearly stated in the contract.
- Maintenance and repairs: The obligations regarding maintenance and repairs to the apartment must be clearly defined. Tenant and landlord should agree on which party will carry out which type of repairs.
For foreign nationals, it is important to have the contract translated into their language in order to fully understand the content. In order to understand both the text of the contract and the legal background, you can therefore be assisted in this process by a lawyer who speaks your language.
I have rented an apartment in Alanya, what do I need to pay attention to when paying the rent?
There are some points you should pay attention to when paying the rent for the apartment you have rented in Alanya. Some of these points are as follows;
- The payment method of the rent: When you pay the rent, we recommend you to transfer the rent to the bank account which is stated in the contract. If you transfer the rent to the landlord’s bank account, you should always indicate in the “Declaration” field for which month or months you are paying the rent and indicate the open address of the apartment. In this way, you protect yourself against negative situations that may arise in the future.
- Receive confirmation of payment: If you pay the rent in cash, you should get a receipt for each payment, as this can be used as evidence in the event of any disputes.
How much can my landlord increase the rent?
If you are renting in Alanya and your landlord wants to increase the rent, there are some rules to follow. According to the Turkish Law of Obligations, the rent increase rate should be determined according to the following rule: “The agreements of the parties on the rent price to be applied in the renewed rental periods are valid provided that they do not exceed the rate of change of the consumer price index according to the twelve-month averages in the previous rental year”.
Increases that are made without complying with this provision and are above the so-called “TÜFE” rate are invalid.
My landlord wants me to leave my apartment, what can I do?
Tenant termination is subject to certain rules. The landlord can only give notice to the tenant in accordance with these rules. Any type of eviction request that violates the law is invalid.
Here are some examples of situations in which the landlord can evict the tenant;
- If the tenant has signed a “covenant to vacate”.
- If the landlord needs the apartment in question or the apartment is sold and the new owner needs the apartment (eviction for personal use is a very broad topic and it is highly recommended to seek legal advice)
- Non-payment of rent by the tenant.
In these cases, the landlord can evict the tenant by filing a lawsuit. If an action for eviction is brought against you, we strongly recommend that you seek the assistance of a lawyer to avoid losing your rights.
Conclusion
To summarize, those who want to rent an apartment in Alanya should pay attention to both legal and practical details. Especially for foreigners, it is important to pay attention to additional legal and administrative issues to ensure a smooth rental process. If you encounter legal problems or want to get detailed information, it is helpful to contact a specialized lawyer.
