Buying and selling
Can you get a property deposit back in Türkiye?
Short answer
It depends on what the parties agreed. Money given when a contract is made is earnest money unless agreed otherwise, and is deducted from the main debt; forfeit money exists only if expressly agreed.
Details
- If forfeit money was agreed: the party who gave it loses it on withdrawing, and the party who received it returns double on withdrawing.
- The nature of the money should be stated clearly in the document.
- A property sale and a promise to sell require official form; a deposit receipt signed at an agency does not transfer ownership.
- An agency cannot take a deposit on the owner's behalf without express authority.
Legal basis
- Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Articles 177 and 178
This page gives general information and is not legal or tax advice. For your own situation, consult a lawyer or an accountant. To cite this page: Emlivo, “Can you get a property deposit back in Türkiye?”, 10 October 2026, https://www.emlivo.com/en/guide/property-deposit-refund-turkey