Buying a Tenanted Apartment in Turkey: Rules, Rights & What Changes

Buying a tenanted apartment in Turkey is legal and common — the existing lease simply continues under the new owner — but it comes with specific rules about what you can and can't do if you actually want to move in or re-let the unit yourself. Here is what changes, and what doesn't, when you buy a property with a sitting tenant.

What Happens to the Lease When the Property Is Sold

A sale does not cancel the existing lease. The tenant's rights continue exactly as before, under the same terms, with the new owner simply stepping into the landlord's position. This is standard practice and generally beneficial for an investor-focused buyer — a tenanted property with a good tenant already in place means immediate rental income from day one, with no vacancy period.

If You Want to Move In Yourself

If you're buying specifically to occupy the property yourself (or for a spouse, child, parent, or another person you're legally obliged to support), Turkish law gives you a defined — but not immediate — path to end the lease:

• You must notify the tenant in writing within 1 month of the date you acquire the property, stating your need.
• You can then only bring an eviction lawsuit starting 6 months after the acquisition date.
• The need must be genuine — this is not a formality you can invoke simply to raise the rent or change tenants without cause.

In practice, this means a buyer who needs to move in should plan for roughly 6-plus months between completing the purchase and the tenant actually vacating, and should get the written notice sent promptly rather than waiting.

Buying as a Pure Rental Investment

If your goal is rental income rather than personal use, a tenanted property with a reliable, paying tenant and a fair-market lease in place is often a genuinely attractive purchase — you inherit a working rental relationship instead of needing to find a tenant yourself. Review the existing lease terms, payment history, and deposit arrangements as part of your due diligence before buying, the same way you would review title and building documentation. If you're buying from abroad, see our guide to rental management for overseas owners for how an existing tenancy fits into a hands-off ownership setup.

What to Check Before Buying a Tenanted Property

• The current lease term, rent amount, and payment/deposit history.
• Whether the tenant has been a reliable payer — ask the seller for records, not just verbal assurance.
• Your own intentions: if there's any chance you'll want to occupy the property within the next year or two, factor the Article 351 notice-and-waiting-period rules into your decision now, not after you've bought.

Frequently Asked Questions