February 1, 2026
What Should I Pay Attention to When Renting Out My Home? (2026 Comprehensive Guide)
Renting out your home is not just about handing over the keys; it is about managing a legal, financial, and operational process. You need to pay attention to the following items to turn your property into a "safe haven" beyond the standard information offered by competitors:
Key Takeaways (Summary)
Legal Assurance: A notarized eviction commitment with a date after the contract is no longer an option, it is mandatory.
Compliance with Regulations: If you are going to rent short-term under Law No. 7464, 100% neighbor consent and a Ministry permit are required.
Financial Protection: Setting the deposit in foreign currency instead of TL in an inflationary environment helps maintain the depreciation of your property.
Operational Risk: Not transferring bills and subscriptions exposes the property owner to execution risk.
1. Critical Details to Consider in the Lease Agreement
The most important clauses that traditional real estate agents overlook, yet preserve your property's value, are as follows:
Eviction Commitment: You must obtain a commitment signed at least one day after the contract, with a clear date on it. Since eviction of the tenant takes 3-5 years in the current legal system, this document is your only guarantee.
Rent Increase Rate (CPI vs. Market): In addition to legal limits, adding a clause to the contract for "annual reassessment based on market prices" (within legal limits) prevents financial erosion.
Purpose of Use: It must be clarified whether the residence can be used for commercial purposes and if sub-leasing is allowed. This clause is vital, especially if you are renting to someone for Airbnb.
Inventory List: The current status of the white goods, furniture, and air conditioning in the house should be detailed; high-resolution images from the moment of delivery should be attached to the contract.
Notification Address: A business address or registered email address (KEP) different from the tenant's MERNİS address must be added to the contract to expedite notification processes.
Photographic Inventory Delivery: The furniture, white goods, and overall condition of the house must be documented with high-resolution photos and included as an annex to the contract.
Guarantor Condition: Asking for a joint guarantor (preferably a civil servant or someone with a regular income) increases security to ensure the tenant's payment capacity.
2. Deposit Management: Protect the Value of Your Money
The classic era of "one month's rent as a deposit" is over. You should choose a model that does not erode in the face of inflation:
Currency or Gold-Based Deposit: Legally, the deposit cannot exceed 3 months' rent. However, instead of keeping this amount in a TL-based time deposit, marking it in the contract as "the equivalent in foreign currency on the delivery date" or directly determining it based on foreign currency/gold protects the property owner.
Deposit Refund Conditions: It must be clearly stated that expenses such as painting, cleaning, and professional pest control will be deducted from the deposit.
3. Bill and Subscription Management: Eliminate Risks
Keeping bills in the property owner's name creates execution risk due to unpaid debts:
Subscription Transfer: The transfer of electricity, water, and natural gas subscriptions to the tenant should be seen as a legal obligation. When debts are unpaid, it is the tenant's record that is affected, not the property owner's.
Maintenance Responsibility: In communication with the apartment management, it should be stated that the tenant is responsible for maintenance debts, but the property owner should conduct periodic follow-ups (Debt-Receivable inquiries).
Common Expenses: A clear distinction must be made that expenses considered fixed assets, such as elevator maintenance, belong to the property owner, while usage expenses belong to the tenant.
4. Tax and Invoice Processes in Tourism Rentals
If you are renting your home short-term (like Airbnb), the process progresses more professionally:
Accommodation Tax: A 2% accommodation tax must be declared for each guest.
Mandatory Invoicing: Corporate management companies (like Homeyday) manage this process on your behalf and issue bills to guests, eliminating your tax risk.
Property Management with the Homeyday Difference
At Homeyday, we manage all the above legal (Eviction, Contract) and financial (Deposit, Tax) processes with our professional teams.
Would you like us to calculate the updated tax obligations and potential rental income of your property for the year 2026?
Should I Get Permission from the Apartment Management When Renting Out My Home Short-Term?
Yes, according to Law No. 7464, it is mandatory to obtain unanimous consent from all apartment owners for rental agreements of less than 100 days. If even one neighbor does not approve, you will not be able to obtain a permission document from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Can I receive the deposit in cash?
According to the Law of Obligations, the deposit should be deposited into a term bank account opened in the name of the property owner and tenant. Receiving cash in hand makes it more difficult to prove legally in the event of a possible dispute and leads to the loss of value of money against inflation.
Who is responsible if the tenant does not pay the bills?
If the subscriptions have been transferred to the tenant, the tenant is fully responsible for the debt. However, if the subscriptions are under the property owner's name, you are legally required to pay the debt and you must seek reimbursement from the tenant for the amount you paid, which is a rather cumbersome process.
Should I pay any tax other than the Rental Income Tax?
In traditional long-term rentals, only GMSI (Rental Income Tax) is paid. However, in short-term rentals (such as Airbnb), in addition to this, a 2% Accommodation Tax and VAT obligations arise depending on the status of commercial income.
How long does it take to evict a tenant?
If you do not have a valid eviction pledge, removing a tenant under the current legal system in Turkey can take between 2 to 5 years, depending on the nature of the case. Therefore, it is crucial to professionally prepare the documents during the contract phase.
