Turkey's TOKİ hit with protests over earthquake‑victim housing sales and new affordability concerns

In İzmir, the İzmir Depremzedeleri Dayanışma Derneği, led by Haydar Özkan, condemned the decision to place 225 two‑bedroom apartments in Bayraklı on the open market. Özkan questioned, “We are waiting for a solution, why are these homes being sold?” and urged that the units be reserved for earthquake survivors and residents displaced by urban‑renewal projects.

At the same time, Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum announced a nationwide TOKİ initiative that will deliver about 20,000 homes across 64 provinces, with an entry price of 2.1 million TL and monthly installments starting at 18 000 TL. Analysts highlighted that such payment plans exceed what most households can afford, especially in Ankara and in disaster‑prone provinces like Hatay, where income levels are lower. The minister’s remarks also noted that 15,000 rental units in Istanbul will be offered below market price but limited to three‑year stays.

Both developments have sparked debate over the allocation of public housing resources and the financial accessibility of the new TOKİ projects for ordinary Turkish citizens.