Real Estate Law Law
Real estate law covers a broad range of areas — the land registry, lease relationships, condominium ownership, zoning legislation and construction contracts — and is one of the most frequently invoked fields of practice. The articles in this section are prepared in the light of current legislation and the case law of the Court of Cassation, addressing both practitioners and readers whose work brings them into contact with the law.
Eviction Action: Landlord's Rights, Grounds and Time Limits
Eviction routes under TBK m.350-356
How is an eviction action filed against a tenant? Need, reconstruction, two valid notices and other grounds for eviction under the TBK.
In residential and roofed-workplace leases, the tenant's eviction may be sought only on grounds expressly enumerated by law. Articles 350-356 of the Turkish Code of Obligations exhaustively list the grounds for eviction (numerus clausus).
Grounds Originating from the Lessor
A housing need of the lessor or of his spouse, descendants, ascendants, or persons he is legally obliged to support (TBK m.350/1-1) is the most frequently invoked ground. Where reconstruction or essential renovation of the leased property is required, this also constitutes a ground for eviction (TBK m.350/1-2).
The need of a new owner is also a ground: under TBK m.351, a person acquiring the immovable must give written notice to the tenant within one month of acquisition and bring the eviction action six months later. The new owner may also file the action within one month after the expiry of the lease term.
Grounds Originating from the Tenant
Under TBK m.352, an eviction undertaking, two valid notices, and the tenant's (or cohabiting spouse's) ownership of suitable housing in the same district are tenant-based grounds for eviction. In the case of two valid notices, the number of notices, their validity, and the fact that they relate to the same lease year must be scrutinised closely.
Time Limits and Prohibition on Re-letting
An eviction action based on need must be filed within one month following the end of the lease. Upon winning the action, the court grants a reasonable period for vacating.
TBK m.355 imposes an important restriction: without just cause, the landlord may not re-let the vacated property to anyone other than the former tenant for three years. Breach gives rise to compensation liability in favour of the former tenant.
Whether the need is genuine, sincere and necessary is assessed on the basis of the actual use by the owner and his close relatives, available housing or workplace options, and the timing of notices and proceedings.
Practical Considerations
Real-estate disputes should be reviewed first on the basis of the land registry, encumbrance records, municipal and zoning status, actual use, and the payment records between the parties. In particular, in matters concerning deed cancellation, eviction, partition and condominium ownership a single document is rarely sufficient; official records must be assessed together with the factual situation.
Before commencing an action or transaction it is essential to identify time limits and the competent authority correctly. The court of the place where the immovable is located, the form requirements before notaries, land-registry procedures, dates of notices and service records can directly affect the course of the dispute.
When preparing evidence, the deed, official deed, lease, bank receipts, formal notices, building permits, management plans and other technical documents that may be subject to expert review should be filed separately. Such preparation enables a clearer legal framework both when filing an action and in settlement discussions.
Relevant Statutory Provisions
- TBK m.350Eviction for need, reconstruction and essential renovation
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 350- Kiraya veren, kira sözleşmesini; 1. Kiralananı kendisi, eşi, altsoyu, üstsoyu veya kanun gereği bakmakla yükümlü olduğu diğer kişiler için konut ya da işyeri gereksinimi sebebiyle kullanma zorunluluğu varsa, 2. Kiralananın yeniden inşası veya imarı amacıyla esaslı onarımı, genişletilmesi ya da değiştirilmesi gerekli ve bu işler sırasında kiralananın kullanımı imkânsız ise, belirli süreli sözleşmelerde sürenin sonunda, belirsiz süreli sözleşmelerde kiraya ilişkin genel hükümlere göre fesih dönemine ve fesih bildirimi için öngörülen sürelere uyularak belirlenecek tarihten başlayarak bir ay içinde açacağı dava ile sona erdirebilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 350- The lessor may terminate the lease by an action filed within one month: 1. If he has a need to use the leased property as a residence or workplace for himself, his spouse, descendants, ascendants, or others he is legally obliged to support; 2. If essential renovation, extension or modification of the leased property for reconstruction or development purposes is required and use of the property during such works is impossible. The one-month period runs, in fixed-term leases, from the end of the term, and in indefinite-term leases, from the date determined according to the general provisions on termination periods and notice requirements.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TBK m.351Need of a new owner
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 351- Kiralananı sonradan edinen kişi, onu kendisi, eşi, altsoyu, üstsoyu veya kanun gereği bakmakla yükümlü olduğu diğer kişiler için konut veya işyeri gereksinimi sebebiyle kullanma zorunluluğu varsa, edinme tarihinden başlayarak bir ay içinde durumu kiracıya yazılı olarak bildirmek koşuluyla, kira sözleşmesini altı ay sonra açacağı bir davayla sona erdirebilir. Kiralananı sonradan edinen kişi, dilerse gereksinim sebebiyle sözleşmeyi sona erdirme hakkını, sözleşme süresinin bitiminden başlayarak bir ay içinde açacağı dava yoluyla da kullanabilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 351- A person who subsequently acquires the leased property and needs it as a residence or workplace for himself, his spouse, descendants, ascendants, or others he is legally obliged to support, may terminate the lease by an action filed six months after acquisition, provided he gives written notice to the tenant within one month of acquisition. Alternatively, the new owner may exercise this right of termination for need by filing an action within one month from the end of the lease term.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TBK m.352Eviction undertaking and two valid notices
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 352- Kiracı, kiralananın teslim edilmesinden sonra, kiraya verene karşı, kiralananı belli bir tarihte boşaltmayı yazılı olarak üstlendiği hâlde boşaltmamışsa kiraya veren, kira sözleşmesini bu tarihten başlayarak bir ay içinde icraya başvurmak veya dava açmak suretiyle sona erdirebilir. Kiracı, bir yıldan kısa süreli kira sözleşmelerinde kira süresi içinde; bir yıl ve daha uzun süreli kira sözleşmelerinde ise bir kira yılı veya bir kira yılını aşan süre içinde kira bedelini ödemediği için kendisine yazılı olarak iki haklı ihtarda bulunulmasına sebep olmuşsa kiraya veren, kira süresinin ve bir yıldan uzun süreli kiralarda ihtarların yapıldığı kira yılının bitiminden başlayarak bir ay içinde, dava yoluyla kira sözleşmesini sona erdirebilir. Kiracının veya birlikte yaşadığı eşinin aynı ilçe veya belde belediye sınırları içinde oturmaya elverişli bir konutu bulunması durumunda kiraya veren, kira sözleşmesinin kurulması sırasında bunu bilmiyorsa, sözleşmenin bitiminden başlayarak bir ay içinde sözleşmeyi dava yoluyla sona erdirebilir.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 352- If after delivery the tenant has undertaken in writing to vacate the leased property on a specific date and fails to do so, the lessor may terminate the lease by applying for enforcement or by filing an action within one month from that date. If the tenant has caused two valid written notices to be served for non-payment of rent within the term of a lease shorter than one year, or within a lease year (or beyond) of a lease of one year or more, the lessor may terminate the lease by action filed within one month after the end of the term, or after the end of the lease year in which the notices were given. If the tenant or his cohabiting spouse owns suitable housing within the same district or municipal area and the lessor did not know this at the time of contracting, the lessor may terminate the lease by action filed within one month after the end of the lease.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TBK m.353Time for filing
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 353- Kiraya veren, en geç davanın açılması için öngörülen sürede dava açacağını kiracıya yazılı olarak bildirmişse, dava açma süresi bir kira yılı için uzamış sayılır. 4. Dava sebeplerinin sınırlılığı NOTEREF _Ref150521808 \f \h \* MERGEFORMAT 2
English summary (non-binding):
Article 353- If, at the latest within the time set for filing the action, the lessor has notified the tenant in writing of his intention to bring it, the filing period is deemed extended for one lease year.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TBK m.354Mandatory nature: provisions cannot be altered against the tenant
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 354- Dava yoluyla kira sözleşmesinin sona erdirilmesine ilişkin hükümler, kiracı aleyhine değiştirilemez.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 354- The provisions on termination of a lease by action cannot be altered to the detriment of the tenant.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
- TBK m.355Prohibition on re-letting (three years)
Original (Turkish, official):
MADDE 355- Kiraya veren, gereksinim amacıyla kiralananın boşaltılmasını sağladığında, haklı sebep olmaksızın, kiralananı üç yıl geçmedikçe eski kiracısından başkasına kiralayamaz. Yeniden inşa ve imar amacıyla boşaltılması sağlanan taşınmazlar, eski hâli ile, haklı sebep olmaksızın üç yıl geçmedikçe başkasına kiralanamaz. Eski kiracının, yeniden inşa ve imarı gerçekleştirilen taşınmazları, yeni durumu ve yeni kira bedeli ile kiralama konusunda öncelik hakkı vardır. Bu hakkın, kiraya verenin yapacağı yazılı bildirimi izleyen bir ay içinde kullanılması gerekir; bu öncelik hakkı sona erdirilmedikçe, taşınmaz üç yıl geçmeden başkasına kiralanamaz. Kiraya veren, bu hükümlere aykırı davrandığı takdirde, eski kiracısına son kira yılında ödenmiş olan bir yıllık kira bedelinden az olmamak üzere tazminat ödemekle yükümlüdür.
English summary (non-binding):
Article 355- When the lessor has obtained eviction for need, he may not, without just cause, re-let the property to anyone other than the former tenant within three years. Properties vacated for reconstruction or redevelopment may not be re-let to others in their old condition within three years without just cause. The former tenant has a right of priority to re-lease the reconstructed property at the new rent and condition; this right must be exercised within one month after the lessor's written notice, and until extinguished it bars re-letting to others within three years. A lessor in breach is liable to compensate the former tenant in an amount not less than one year's rent as paid in the last lease year.
Source: mevzuat.gov.tr · last reviewed: 2026-05-12
The statutory provisions are reproduced for information purposes only. The current and official text on mevzuat.gov.tr is authoritative.
Conclusion
Eviction actions are subject to strict formal and time-limit rules; failure to serve notice properly or to file within one month may result in dismissal. The genuineness of need, written notices and the lease expiry date should be checked together.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you would like professional assistance on a specific matter, you may request a consultation.
Request a ConsultationRelated Articles
- Real Estate Law
Action for Cancellation of Title Deed and Re-registration: Conditions, Time Limits and Procedure
22 April 2026
- Real Estate Law
Adaptation of Lease Agreements: Hardship and Conditions
15 April 2026
- Real Estate Law
Condominium Ownership Act: Management Plan, Dues Disputes and Manager's Liability
08 April 2026