Guidance

Setting Up Utilities After Buying Property in Turkey: Electricity, Water, Gas & Internet

By , Founder & Managing Broker ·

Luxury Bosphorus View Apartments in Uskudar Istanbul — photo 2

Once your tapu (title deed) is in your name, four utility subscriptions need to be opened before you can move in: electricity, water, natural gas (if the building has it), and internet. Each one is a separate application, usually to a different provider, and each has its own small set of required documents. None of it is complicated, but doing it in the right order saves a week of back-and-forth — especially if you're buying from abroad.

Key takeaway: You need the tapu, the building's iskan (habitation certificate), a current DASK earthquake insurance policy, and your passport/residence permit for every subscription. If any of these is missing, the utility company will not open an account — this is the most common reason foreign buyers get stuck after closing.

What You Need Before You Start

  • Tapu (title deed) in your name, or a notarised power of attorney if someone is handling this for you.
  • İskan (habitation/occupancy certificate) for the building — subscriptions cannot be opened without it.
  • Current DASK policy (compulsory earthquake insurance) — required for the electricity connection specifically.
  • Passport and, if you have one, your Turkish tax number (vergi numarası) or residence permit (ikamet).
  • If buying an apartment, the building's site yönetimi (building management/HOA) contact, for shared services and any move-in formalities they require.

A Turkish tax number is quick to obtain at any tax office (vergi dairesi) with just your passport, and most providers will ask for one even if you don't yet have a residence permit — we arrange this for clients who don't already have one.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied by a regional distribution company (the provider depends on the city/district — for example BEDAŞ in parts of Istanbul). You apply at the local provider's office or online with your tapu, iskan, DASK policy, and passport/tax number. If the property was previously occupied, ask the seller to close their subscription (abonelik iptali) at the same handover date to avoid any dispute over the final bill.

New-build apartments without an iskan yet typically run on a temporary construction meter (geçici sayaç) managed by the developer or site management, which is normal while waiting for the final habitation certificate.

Water

Water is supplied by the municipal water authority (for example İSKİ in Istanbul). The process mirrors electricity: apply with your tapu, iskan, and ID, and request the final reading and account closure from the previous owner at handover. In many apartment buildings, water is billed to the building as a whole and divided by the site management, so check with them first — you may not need an individual subscription at all.

Natural Gas

Not every property has a gas connection — some newer developments use only electricity for heating and hot water. Where gas is available, it is supplied by the regional gas distribution company (for example İGDAŞ in Istanbul). The application requires the same core documents, plus the gas company will usually schedule a technician visit to open the valve and perform a safety check on the internal installation before turning the supply on — budget a few extra days for this appointment.

Internet and Mobile

Internet is the one subscription that isn't tied to the tapu or iskan — any fibre or ADSL provider will connect service with just your passport/residence document and a Turkish bank account or payment method, once they confirm infrastructure is available at the address. Contract lengths and installation timelines vary by provider and by building (some new developments are pre-wired, others need a technician visit), so it's worth checking availability at the address before you commit to a move-in date.

Typical Timeline

For a resale property with a complete iskan and a seller who has properly closed their accounts, electricity and water can usually be transferred within a few days. Gas, where applicable, often takes slightly longer because of the mandatory safety inspection. Internet installation is normally the longest lead time if new cabling or a technician visit is required — booking it as early as possible is the single best way to avoid a gap after you move in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open utility subscriptions without a Turkish residence permit?
Yes. A passport and a Turkish tax number (vergi numarası) are generally sufficient for electricity, water, and gas. A residence permit is not required, though having one can simplify some providers' paperwork.
What happens if the building doesn't have an iskan yet?
Without an iskan, individual subscriptions cannot be opened in your name. New developments typically run on a temporary construction meter managed by the developer or site management until the final habitation certificate is issued.
Do I need a separate water subscription in an apartment building?
Not always. Many apartment buildings bill water to the building as a whole through the site management and divide the cost among owners, rather than metering each unit individually. Check with your building's management before assuming you need to apply separately.
Who pays the final utility bill when buying a resale property?
This should be agreed with the seller at handover: the seller closes their account and settles the final reading up to the handover date, and the buyer opens a new subscription from that date. We coordinate this directly with the seller for every resale we handle.

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