# Istanbul rental housing market developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/istanbul-rental-housing-market-developments > Updated: 2026-09-10T09:53:00.000Z. Sources: 43. Developments: 3. The rental housing market in Istanbul has faced increasing pressure due to rigorous tenant screening processes and urban transformation projects. Landlords have implemented strict requirements to ensure financial security, often requesting sensitive personal data, employment verification, credit reports, and personal guarantors. Legal experts have noted that while such requests are not inherently illegal, they must adhere to data protection and anti-discrimination laws. To combat rising costs, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a social rental housing model managed by TOKİ. This initiative includes the sale of 100,000 social housing units alongside 15,000 rental units. Specific details for the first phase of the rental project have been released. Applications for 1,071 units will be accepted from September 14 to September 25, 2026, via the e-Devlet portal. To qualify, applicants must be married Turkish citizens over 18 who have resided in Istanbul for at least one year, do not own a home, and have a monthly household net income below 100,000 TL. Successful candidates will be selected through a notary-supervised lottery. Rental prices for this phase are set significantly below market rates: 10,000 TL for 1+1 units, 12,000 TL for 2+1 units, 15,000 TL for 3+1 units, and 18,000 TL for 4+1 units. Units will be located across 12 districts, including Ataşehir, Sancaktepe, Ümraniye, Üsküdar, Maltepe, Tuzla, Kartal, Başakşehir, Gaziosmanpaşa, Beyoğlu, Güngören, and Arnavutköy. These leases are for a three-year term, after which units will be reallocated via a new lottery. TOKİ expects to deliver keys for the first phase of units in October 2026. Further developments indicate that social housing investments are set to increase by 150 percent under a new Medium-Term Program. The ‘Yarısı Bizden’ urban transformation campaign has been extended until December 31, 2027. ## Claims - The first 1,071 rental units will be delivered in October. (disputed by 16 sources) - The first housing unit deliveries are planned to begin in March 2027. (disputed by 2 sources) - Applications for the social rental housing project in Istanbul will begin on September 14, 2026. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The project will provide a total of 15,000 rental social housing units in Istanbul. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The project will be implemented in 12 districts across Istanbul. (corroborated by 17 sources) - Monthly rent for 1+1 units will start at 10,000 TL. (corroborated by 16 sources) - The rental period for the social housing units is set at three years. (corroborated by 15 sources) - Applicants must be married and have a monthly household net income below 100,000 TL. (corroborated by 14 sources) - Applicants must have resided in Istanbul for at least one year. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The first lottery for the initial 1,000 housing units will be held in October 2026. (corroborated by 6 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Istanbul social rental housing project to offer 15,000 units Istanbul will launch a social rental housing project offering 15,000 units at below-market rates. Applications open September 14, 2026, for eligible married households with incomes under 100,000 TL. 33 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-social-rental-housing-applications-to-open-september-14 ### 2026-09-07: Istanbul social rental housing project to launch September 2026 Turkey is launching a social rental housing project in Istanbul, offering 15,000 units at below-market rates. Applications begin September 14, 2026, with the first lottery set for October 2026. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-social-housing-15000-rental-units-to-open-for-applications-sept-14 ### 2026-09-03: Istanbul rental market sees rise in strict tenant screening Renters in Istanbul face increasingly strict screening processes, including detailed personal forms and financial guarantees, as landlords seek greater security amid high demand and urban transformation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-rental-market-sees-rise-in-strict-tenant-screening --- Cite as: Istanbul rental housing market developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/istanbul-rental-housing-market-developments