Turkey eases conversion of vacant offices into homes

The Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has amended the Planlı Alanlar İmar Yönetmeliği (Planned Areas Zoning Regulation) to simplify the transformation of unused office space into residential units. The new rules allow buildings located in zones that permit "residence + office" use to convert up to 60% of their floor area to housing, with the temporary scheme running until 1 July 2027.

The amendment also clarifies floor‑area‑ratio calculations, lifts ambiguities in elevator requirements, and updates permit and technical standards for fire safety, energy efficiency and insulation. Experts say the measure will revive idle office stock, increase housing supply, and improve urban density, provided owners obtain written municipal approval and, where necessary, amend ownership plans.

The regulation applies to both newly built projects and completed buildings that already house offices, provided the specified zoning conditions are met.