My Home in The Sun - Turkey

Plots of land suitable for building your own property are available in many areas along the coast. 

Prices for land vary depending on location, access and density of building permitted on the land.  Since Turkey’s property legislation was amended in 2006, foreign nationals cannot buy more than 2.5 hectares. Land outside zoned municipal areas or within strategic, cultural, historic or economic significance are off limits too.

When you purchase land in Turkey, you will receive a title deed or tapu senedi.  This gives details of the plot owner, its location, its co-ordinates and size. These are recorded in the land registry.

Before buying land to build on you may want to consider what is around it. Is the person who owns the neighbouring plot planning to build also?  How will there construction affect your building, will it overlook your property or obstruct your views.

Before commencing building you will need to apply for planning permission. This involves submitting detailed plans of your project.  You will need the help of a Turkish Architect. Once you have received planning permission your architect will draw up a schedule of works.  Once this is done you will need to find a builder. Your architect may recommend someone.  Before any work commences it is wise to have a contract drawn up by Turkish solicitor and signed by both parties outlining payment terms linked to building progress.  A payment schedule may include payments linked to:

• Completion of shell of the buildng
• Completion of internal and external work
• Completion of landscaping and gardening

The final payment should be held and relate to a snagging list, which is a list of problems that need to be sorted out.

Building work for a villa can take between 9 and 12 months.  In some tourist resorts there is a ban on building work during the tourist season.