What is a rental agreement in Türkiye and what should it contain?
A rental agreement is the contract that leaves the use of a property to the tenant for a price and sets out both sides' rights and duties. It needs no notary to be valid; a plain written contract naming the parties, the property, the rent and the term and signed in two copies is enough.
Details
- The contract should name the parties, the property's full address, the monthly rent and payment day, the term, the deposit and any inventory of fixtures.
- No notary or official form is required; a plain signed written contract is valid. Writing it down matters for proof later.
- For homes and roofed workplaces the yearly increase cannot exceed the twelve-month average change in the Consumer Price Index for the previous rental year.
Example
A contract prepared in two copies, signed by both sides and stating the monthly rent, payment day, term and deposit is a valid rental agreement. Each side keeps one copy.
Legal basis
- Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Art. 299 (definition of a lease).
- Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098, Art. 344 (increase cap for homes and roofed workplaces).
Frequently asked
Does a rental agreement have to be notarised?
No. A signed plain written contract is valid; a notary is used only if the parties choose to.
Is a verbal tenancy valid?
Yes, but it is hard to prove. A written contract is recommended to show the rent, term and conditions.
Related tools and documents
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, “What is a rental agreement in Türkiye and what should it contain?”, 24 October 2026, https://www.emlivo.com/en/guide/rental-agreement-turkey