Istanbul court annuls illegal tapu sale in Sarıyer’s Poligon neighbourhood

In Sarıyer’s Poligon neighbourhood of Istanbul, the titles of about 35 households were transferred in 2021 to construction firms Pelit İnşaat and Nar Enerji at prices far below market value after the area was declared a “reserve” zone. Residents learned of the sale through a municipal notice and alleged that the transactions violated their property rights. After a legal battle that lasted several years, the Istanbul 14th Administrative Court ruled that the sale constituted a “violation of property rights” and ordered the cancellation of the transaction. The court’s decision restores the titles to the original owners and provides relief to families who feared losing their homes. The case follows a 2023 amendment to the law on disaster‑risk areas that enabled the contested auction.