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Istanbul rental housing market developments

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-10 13:37 UTC → 2026-09-11 01:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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.

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