Ankara is taking action to address rising rents by implementing stricter regulations on Airbnb-style short-term rentals. The Turkish government has submitted a bill to the Turkish Parliament, proposing that landlords must obtain permits from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for short-term rentals. Additionally, homeowners will be required to pay taxes, display a sign in front of the building, and pay a fee.
The decision to impose these regulations comes as Turkey faces significant increases in both home prices and rents. The surge in prices has been influenced by a widespread increase in consumer inflation, which was triggered by the central bank’s rate cut cycle under previous management in 2021 and 2022.
Not only are prices rising, but the country has also experienced a surge in legal disputes between landlords and tenants. These disputes have primarily been driven by the government’s imposition of a 25% annual cap on rental price increases, despite the backdrop of soaring inflation, which is running above 60% in annual terms.
To avoid costly and protracted legal battles, homeowners have increasingly turned to daily or short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb. However, the new bill categorizes rentals with durations of less than 100 days as “tourism-oriented.”
The draft legislation also includes penalties for violations of the new requirements. Landlords and real estate agents found in violation will face a penalty of 100,000 Turkish liras ($3,600) per housing unit. These strict measures reflect the government’s determination to address the issue of rising rents and create a more sustainable housing market.
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