Everyone has questions when they consider buying abroad – if you have a question that does not appear in our list, contact us and we will try our best to answer the question for you.

I am thinking of purhasing a holiday home in Turkey, but don’t know where to start.
We recommend that you use a professional real estate agency, as the law can be quite complicated, you need to be sure that you are doing everything properly, and not paying more than you need to. The process is actually quite straight forward, and at ATH, we only show clients what they want to see and can afford. Once the property is chosen, we are with you every step of the way. We always use a Solicitor and each purchaser has a sales contract in both languages.

Is there such a thing as a “licensed” Estate Agency as in the UK?
Yes. If an agency is licensed they will display a tax certificate on the wall. This shows that they are declaring their profits for tax purposes, and are therefore, legal.

Will I need to keep coming to sign things, throughout the purchase process?
No. ATH will manage the sale for you if you are unable to come here. The important thing is the signing for the transfer of deeds from the seller to you. If you cannot be here at that time, you can give someone at ATH power of attorney to do this on your behalf.

Someone I know has told me about a great bargain of a property. Should I buy from them?
Would you buy like this at home? No! Then the answer would be no here also. You should not buy something as large as a property like this. No matter how well you know them and however trustworthy they may seem, they are not in the property business therefore cannot know the law as the professionals do.
Only through an established agency such as ATH, can you be completely sure that everything is done properly and legally, and that all eventualities are covered. In some instances ‘outsiders’ have been known to add a massive 20% to the selling price making a massive commission.

Can we bring pets into Turkey?   
Yes, it is possible to bring a pet into Turkey with its own passport. However, Turkey is not yet part of the EU pet passport scheme, and if at any time you wished to return to the UK with the animal,you would be subject to the standard quarantine laws.

What about the language problem?
All transactions and contracts are supported by a legally certified English Translator. This is the law, and ATH makes sure that their chosen translator also has a thorough knowledge of the laws regarding these transactions. Should you wish to do so you can provide an independent translator though the costs would be met by yourselves.

Do I really need a Solicitor?
Throughout the purchasing process, the solicitor is there to represent your interests. A contract is drawn up between the seller and the buyer, which is checked thoroughly by both parties before signing. ATH will not become involved in any sale without a Solicitor and Translator.

Do I need to pay tax if I own a property in Turkey?
Yes. You need to pay buyers tax, which is a one-off payment of 1.5% of the purchase price of the property.(The seller pays the same amount as ‘sellers’ tax’). And you will then pay property owners’ tax every year, which is .5% of this price. This is normally due in January, and can be paid all at once, or in two installments, January and June. There is also a community tax, which is for roads, street lighting, services and rubbish collection. This is now integrated in with the water bills, so there is no seperate payment for this, but is only about £10 a year. There is also a rental tax that should be paid if you are renting out your property.

Can the deeds be in the joint names?
Yes, no problem as long as both partners are here at the initial sales contract stage.

Can I open a bank account in Turkey?
Most of the Turkish banks will accept foreigners as clients. Your passport and a tax number is always required (you can get your tax number from the local tax office (Vergi Dairesi). Cash point cards are available and can be applied for once the account is open as well as the internet banking facility. A bank account is especially useful if you will be having monies transferred from the UK.

Can we have a telephone?
Turk Telekom is the National telephone company, and you can have the telephone installed, but you will need to have a residency permit.

What about insurance?   
There are many reputable companies offering comprehensive annual cover. We advise all clients to take out buildings and contents insurances, and can recommend good companies. Some areas are deemed earthquake regions, and in these parts, earthquake insurance is compulsory.
Health insurance is also available and there are various policies to choose from, and as medical costs can be quite expensive these are worth checking out.