19.10.2026

A safe purchase of a resale apartment in Turkey begins before the deposit. The check covers ownership, documents, the building's condition and the seller's authority, making it possible to identify seizures, mortgages and illegal alterations in advance.

Checking an apartment in Turkey before purchase includes the following steps:

A resale property check in Turkey ends with a repeat check of the registry before title is transferred.

You need the TAPU, a full registry extract, the İskan, the approved plan, an aidat certificate, and information on taxes and utility payments. The documents for a resale apartment in Turkey must show the same address, plot and independent unit number. The deposit agreement should provide for a refund if legal obstacles are discovered.

The TAPU is checked against the current record obtained by the owner through Web Tapu or the Tapu office. The owner's full name, address, ada, parsel, unit number, share, type of right and registration details are verified. The cadastral map confirms the plot's location, but not the apartment's clean legal title.

A legal check of an apartment in Turkey takes the type of record into account:

For a completed home, Kat Mülkiyeti is preferable, but this status does not rule out other risks.

The registry may show mortgages, seizures, pledge and easement rights, a ban on disposal, rights of use, court annotations and third-party rights. The tenant and entries in the şerh, beyan and irtifak sections are also checked.

Encumbrances are checked using a full extract from the Tapu Müdürlüğü or Web Tapu. Access is granted by the owner or an authorized lawyer. A final check extract is needed immediately before the transaction, as the information may change.

The İskan is a building occupancy permit, officially the Yapı Kullanma İzin Belgesi. The document confirms that construction is complete and that the property is approved for use according to the approved project. At the municipality, it is checked against the building permit, project, address, block and unit. The reasons for a missing İskan and the consequences for registration, utility rates and resale are established before the deposit.

The actual layout is compared with the municipal project and the TAPU. Relocation of the kitchen and bathroom, merging of the balcony, and changes to the facade, area and load-bearing walls are checked. Unapproved work may lead to a fine, restoration of the original layout or demolition of the altered part. When discrepancies are found, a resale property check in Turkey is supplemented by an architect's or engineer's report.

The seller provides an aidat certificate, property tax information, paid bills and information on enforcement proceedings. The previous owner's personal debts usually don't transfer automatically. However, a mortgage, seizure and other registered restrictions remain in effect until removed. The new owner may become a party to an existing lease, and running costs arise after title is registered. Settlements up to the handover date are set out in the contract.

The inspection is best carried out with an independent engineer:

The year of construction does not prove safety. The project, soil conditions, construction supervision, and history of damage and repairs are reviewed. The municipality is asked whether the building is included in the urban renewal program and whether it has been declared at risk. If in doubt, an engineering inspection of the structure is carried out.

The seller's full name is checked against the registry and their ID. For shared ownership, the co-owners and their consents are checked; for an inherited property, the heirs and registration of the inheritance. A representative needs a valid notarized or consular power of attorney to sell and receive money. If in doubt, the owner's legal capacity is confirmed, and for a company, the signatory's authority.

A comprehensive check before paying the main amount reduces the risk of losing the deposit and of later disputes.