A recent court decision in Istanbul has drawn attention to rent disputes in Turkey. The case involved a tenant who had lived in the Etiler district since 2006. Over eighteen years, the rent had fallen far below market rates. When the landlord sought a significant increase, the tenant refused. The tenant argued that the legal inflation-based cap should apply. After mediation had failed, the landlord filed a lawsuit in January 2023.
During the proceedings, the court appointed an expert panel to assess the property. This expert assessment, known as a bilirkişi report, is a standard procedure. The report determined that the fair rent should have been 14,108 lira in November 2022. By the inspection date in April 2024, it had risen to 34,220 lira. These figures shocked both parties involved in the dispute.
However, the court's final ruling surprised many legal observers. The judge awarded a monthly rent of only 20,000 lira. This was because the landlord had originally requested that specific amount. Under Turkish procedural law, a court cannot grant more than what is claimed. This principle, which restricts judges to the petitioner's stated demand, proved decisive. Had the landlord requested a higher amount, the outcome would have been different.
This precedent carries broader significance amid Turkey's severe housing affordability crisis. Turkey recorded the highest rent increase in Europe in 2025 at 78 percent. Rent determination cases have reached a record high of over 95,000 nationally. Inflationary pressures and insufficient affordable housing supply continue to affect millions. Consequently, understanding legal procedures has become essential for both landlords and tenants.