Everything you need to know about a Turkish title deed

If you buy a house in Alanya, you will receive a title deed at the end of the purchase contract and the transfer of the final deposit. This proof of ownership is called tapu in Turkish and is handed over at the land registry (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü). The tapu states, among other things, the location of the property, the owner’s name, the type of property and the dimensions.

What types of property deeds are there in Turkey?

There are three commonly used types of title deeds in Turkey. These are as follows:

1. Blue Title Deed – Tapu: The blue title deed is known as the title deed which symbolizes that the property is a land that has not yet been built on, or that construction has just started. The lands with a blue title deed indicate that the condominium has not yet been acquired. This type of title deed is a deed between owner and builder. The construction of the project is planned on a designated plot of land and construction approval is taken.
2. Easement on the floor – Kat irtifakı: This involves dividing a project into separate sections. When 70% of the construction is completed, a certificate is issued by the land registry that the construction has been completed according to the guidelines in the building decree. The building contractors present the building to be sold to the buyer via this register with precise details. After construction is complete, the contractor requests full ownership for each title deed separately.
3. Condominium title deed – Kat mülkiyeti: After the construction is complete, a title deed is issued for each independent part of the project. After this, landlords can also rent out the property without any problems.

All such title deeds are proprietary; there is no ground lease in Turkey.

What is required to apply for a title deed?

When applying for a title deed in Turkey, the following documents are required:

• Buyer's passport and a translation thereof
• Buyer's tax number
• A completed form with identity details
• A valuation report of the property
• The current title deed of the property
• A proof of identity from the seller

How does the application for a tapu work?

Home Catcher brings the required documents to the land registry and requests the title deed. It can take up to 2 weeks, in certain periods more, before the title deed is available. Before placing the final signatures for the tapu, the related costs must be paid. This concerns the transfer tax, stamp tax and circulating capital.

After the documents for the transfer of ownership have been prepared, both parties come to the Land Registry for the final signatures. Often this is on the same day you receive the invitation, sometimes there are a few days in between. If the buyer or seller (or both) is of foreign origin, a sworn interpreter must be present to explain the conditions, because the papers are only drawn up in Turkish. After signing, the title deed is printed by the officers and handed over to the buyer.

Home Catcher's staff will be happy to assist you in applying for the Turkish title deed and following the application process as a free after-sales service.