Turkey: Legal restrictions on occupying apartment common areas

Under Turkey's Condominium Law (KMK), placing personal items such as shoes, shoe racks, bicycles, or boxes in apartment corridors and stairwells is considered an illegal occupation of common areas. According to Article 4 of the law, hallways and entrance areas are shared spaces and cannot be claimed as personal property, even if placed directly in front of a unit door.

Legal disputes often arise when these items cause hygiene issues, unpleasant odors, or obstruct the passage of cleaning equipment like robot vacuums. Furthermore, the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire classifies corridors as emergency escape routes, meaning any obstruction constitutes a security violation.

If a neighbor is disturbed, they can apply to a Civil Court of Peace to request the removal of the items. Following a mandatory mediation process, if the items are not removed, a court can order their eviction through law enforcement and bailiffs. The management plan of a specific building can also serve as a binding rule regarding the use of these common areas.