Article by Pekin & Pekin

I. MARKET OVERVIEW AND POLICY REASONS BEHIND THE LAW

The housing financing system is poised to play a key role in providing affordable housing to families and to increase real estate development, construction, real estate finance, secondary markets and related sectors in the economy of the Republic of Turkey ("Turkey"). Solving the current problems of housing and housing finance through a modernized financial and real property system will have many positive social and economic effects on the entire country, including an increase in homeownership, the promotion of economic development through planned urbanization, a decrease in unauthorized construction and a steady rise in the market value of real property as it becomes more widely available to the public.

1. The Current Housing Financial System

The problems in the current Turkish housing market are two-pronged and largely a result of the problems with Turkey's economy. First, large urban cities in Turkey are faced with a high volume of unofficial and unauthorized housing. Due to high levels of unemployment, Turkey has been undergoing a large in-country migration as more people relocate from rural areas to urban areas in search of work. This has resulted in unofficial and unlicensed construction, unplanned urbanization and an unofficial economy. Approximately 40% of the housing stock in Turkey is unofficial and most of it is in need of rehabilitation.

Second, an ineffective and almost nonexistent housing finance system not only keeps this unofficial market afloat, but also hinders the growth and development of a potentially booming Turkish real estate sector. Currently, housing credits (the Turkish version of the mortgage), available through Turkish banks, make up only 3% of the housing finance market, while the rest of Turkish homebuyers either self-finance their homes or borrow from family and friends. This is due largely to the fact that housing credits are far from being affordable to the common wage earner, even where there are two or more income earners in a given family. Housing credits commonly have very short terms of up to only five or ten years at most and incredibly high interest rates, which results in homebuyers being faced with extremely high, and in most instances unaffordable, monthly payments. In Turkey, only a small percentage of families with very high earning power can afford to purchase housing credits. Consequently, as compared with other European and American countries, the volume of homes being sold on the market in Turkey is fairly low.

However, due to the recent stabilization of the Turkish economy, among other factors, including increased competition among banks, there is a new trend in regard to housing credits. Turkish banks are beginning to offer longer terms and lower interest rates than in the past. Nowadays, housing credits of ten plus years are becoming more and more common and interest rates are gradually dropping. Albeit, the housing market still remains quite unaffordable to the average potential homebuyer.

Against this backdrop, there are investors both in Turkey and abroad who are willing to provide funds to Turkish homebuyers with more favorable terms than current housing finance opportunities available in Turkey. Every year, all over the world, approximately five trillion USD worth of funds are transferred to homebuyers over the capital markets. While countries with economic conditions similar to Turkey are able to utilize these international funds, the lack of a modern housing finance system prevents Turkey from taking advantage of these widely available funds and services. Turkey's current housing finance system stands as a barrier against uniting investors and homebuyers for a mutually beneficial relationship in the housing finance sector.

2. Housing Finance System

The efficiency of the housing finance system depends on a variety of factors, including, the macroeconomic stability of Turkey and adequate internal infrastructure to support that system. The new infrastructure contemplates: (i) an ease in establishing and transferring liens, (ii) a well functioning and independent appraisal profession, (iii) an effective and quicker foreclosure procedure and (iv) capital market institutions and instruments available for securitization of mortgages. When these preconditions are met through the amendments to the various laws of Turkey, there may still be a need for public or private sector intervention in order to act as a catalyst and trigger the new system into operation. Thus, the security, effectiveness and efficiency of the housing finance infrastructure are intended to promote ease and profitability for both foreign and domestic investors alike.

II. THE LAW AMENDING THE LAWS RELATED TO THE HOUSING FINANCE SYSTEM

The Law Amending the Laws Related to the Housing Finance System Law No. 5582, published in the official gazette dated March 06, 2007 (the "Law") aims to cure these housing problems by establishing an efficient housing finance system. This goal requires a coordinated effort in several different areas of law. In order to provide the infrastructure needed to establish this effective housing finance system, the Law is contemplated to amend (i) Capital Markets Law No. 2499, (ii) Execution and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004, (iii) various tax laws, (iv) Consumer Protection Law No.4077, (v) Financial Leasing Law No.3226, and (vi) Mass Housing Law No.2985.

The most important of these amendments will be discussed in detail below.

1. Capital Markets Law

The Law covers various amendments on Capital Markets Law No.2499 dated July 30, 1981 ("CML") mainly related to newly structured corporations (such as "Housing Finance Corporations" and "Mortgage Finance Corporation"), mortgage capital markets instruments (such as "Mortgage Covered Bonds" and "Asset Covered Bonds"), funds (such as "Housing Finance Fund" and "Asset Finance Fund") and other material issues.

1.1. Corporations

The Law Regarding the Housing Finance System specifies two corporations; "Housing Finance Corporations" and "Mortgage Finance Corporations". According to the Law, these two corporations shall be defined in Articles 38/A and 39/A of the CML.

1.1.1. Housing Finance Corporations

As per the Law, the housing finance corporations shall be defined in Article 38/A of the CML.

According to Article 38/A of the CML, housing finance corporations are the banks that provide loans directly to the consumer or engage in financial leasing for the purpose of housing finance and the leasing companies and the financing companies approved by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (the "BRSA") to operate for the housing finance activities.

Housing finance is defined in the Law as granting of loans to consumers for house purchasing purposes, leasing of the houses to the consumers through housing finance and granting of loans secured by the houses owned by the consumers.

The Capital Markets Board ("CMB") is authorized to require that the valuation of houses only be performed by authorized independent real estate appraisers and appraisal companies. Appraisals are to be conducted in the lending or leasing stage for the loans and leasing receivables, and will become the basis and the collateral of the mortgage capital market instruments to be issued.

According to the Article 20 of the Law, leasing companies and financing companies may not carry housing finance activities for six months after the enactment of Article 38/A of this Law.

1.1.2. Mortgage Finance Corporations

As per the Law, the mortgage finance corporations shall be defined in Article 39/A of the CML. The mortgage finance corporations are incorporated as joint stock companies approved by the CMB, for the purpose of taking over, transferring and managing the receivables arising from housing finance, providing financial resources by means of taking over receivables as the security. The mortgage finance corporations may run the risk-management activities for their operations.

The paid up capital of the mortgage finance companies shall not be less than the amount for the investment and development banks specified in the Banking Act, No.5411. The shareholders, the owner of the shares representing directly or indirectly 10% or more of the capital or voting rights and the owner of the shares has the privilege to determine the members of the board of directors are required to have the qualifications for the founders of the banks specified under the Banking Act, No.5411

With regard to providing finance by means of taking over receivables arising from housing finance, those receivables cannot be used for any other financial purposes, may not be pledged or provided as guarantee and may not be attached, subject to preliminary injunction or be included in the process of bankruptcy by third persons even for the public receivables. The CMB, provided that necessary approval is obtained from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board ("BRSB"), may authorize a separate registry institution to keep records of the assets used as collateral.

The matters regarding the incorporation, the procedures and principles of the operation and the obligations of the mortgage finance company are determined by the CMB provided that the necessary approval of BRSB is obtained. The mortgage finance companies are required to apply to the CMB in order to obtain the consent for the incorporation and operation. In case a company, supervised and audited by the BRSA, applies to the CMB in order to obtain a consent for the incorporation of a mortgage finance company of which such company shall be a shareholder, the consent of the BRSB is also required for the incorporation process.

Mortgage finance corporations are subject to the gradual liquidation process and the principles and applications of the liquidation process shall be determined by the CMB. The liquidation process of the mortgage finance companies are conducted by the Investor Protection Fund.

1.2. Mortgage Capital Markets Instruments

As per the Law, the mortgage capital markets instruments shall be defined in subparagraph (k) of Article 3 of the CML, as mortgage covered bonds, mortgage backed securities, capital market instruments other than stocks, which are issued by mortgage finance corporations, and other capital market instruments collateralized by the receivables arising from housing finance.

1.2.1. Mortgage Covered Bonds

As per the Law, mortgage finance corporations shall be defined in Article 13/A of the CML. Mortgage covered bonds are the debt securities which are general obligations of the issuer and secured by assets in the cover pools. Mortgage covered bonds can be issued by the banks and mortgage finance corporations.

Material specifications of the mortgage covered bonds are set forth below:

  1. Issuers are obliged to follow the cover assets of the mortgage covered bonds, apart from other assets, in a cover pool. The procedures for registration of assets shall be determined by the CMB provided that the consent of the BRSB is obtained. The CMB may oblige registration of the assets in the cover pool also in a third party registration agency.
  2. The cover pool may consist of receivables secured by mortgages on authorized houses and other real properties, substitute assets and contracts protecting against the risks associated with these.
  3. For housing finance receivables, no portion of a receivable in excess of 75% of the value of the house securing the receivable and for receivables secured by mortgages on the other authorized real properties, no portion of the receivable in excess of 50% of the value of the real estate securing the receivable can be included in calculation of cover value. In this respect, the CMB may oblige that the appraisal has to be done by appraisers or appraisal companies authorized with the Law according to principles defined by the CMB. For housing finance receivables or receivables secured by mortgages on other authorized real estate properties to be included in the cover pool, all the payments due up to date of inclusion must have been made by the debtor.
  4. Substitute assets may consist of cash, domestic public debt instruments, securities issued under treasury guarantee, securities issued by governments or central banks of OECD member states and other similar securities found appropriate by the CMB.
  5. Each of receivables secured by mortgages on other authorized real estate properties and substitute assets may not be higher than 15% of the cover pool.
  6. Issuers may enter into contracts in order to protect assets in the cover pool from interest rate, currency, credit and similar risks. The contracts made for the purpose of protecting assets in the cover pool from risks are also part of the cover pool.
  7. At all times until redemption of the mortgage covered bonds:

    a) The nominal value of the assets in the cover pool must equal or exceed the nominal value of the mortgage covered bonds.

    b) The yield from the assets in the cover pool must equal or exceed the yield of the mortgage covered bonds.

    c) The revenues from the assets in the cover pool must meet the amount and the payments to the mortgage covered bond owners.

    d) The net present value of the assets in the cover pool must exceed the net present value of the mortgage covered bonds by 2%.

    The principles regarding the above mentioned article shall be determined by the CMB.

  8. With the consent of the cover monitor, the issuers may take out or replace an asset in the cover pool for good cause.
  9. Issuers must appoint a cover monitor approved by the CMB. The qualifications of the cover monitor shall be determined by the CMB. The CMB may request the replacement of the cover monitor or may replace the cover monitor ex officio.
  10. Until the mortgage covered bonds are redeemed, the assets in the cover pool cannot be used for any other purposes than securing the mortgage covered bonds, cannot be pledged, cannot be used as collateral, cannot be attached including the collection of the public receivables, cannot be subject to precautionary injunctions and cannot be included into the bankruptcy process.
  11. The contracts made for the purpose of protecting the assets in the cover pool from risks must have a clause that prohibits the unilateral termination of the contract in the event of bankruptcy of the issuer.
  12. In case an issuer fails to meet its obligations under the mortgage covered bonds on due time, the management of the issuer is taken over by public authorities, the operation license of the issuer is cancelled, or the issuer goes bankrupt, the income of the assets in the cover pool is used primarily to make payments to the mortgage covered bond holders and counterparties of the contracts made for the purpose of protecting the assets in the cover pool from risks. In this case the CMB is authorized to decide for:

    a) Liquidation of the assets in the cover pool, early redemption of the mortgage covered bonds, and appointment of a manager to manage relevant transactions; or gradual liquidation of the assets in the cover pool, and appointment of Investor Protection Fund to manage liquidation.

    b) Transfer of all assets in the cover pool and liabilities related to the mortgage covered bonds to another qualified issuer.

    c) Appointment of a manager, who will manage the assets in the cover pool and make payments to the mortgage covered bond holders with the income of the assets in the cover pool.

  13. In case the issuer defaults on the payments of the mortgage covered bonds and the assets in the cover pool are not enough to pay the receivables of the mortgage covered bond holders, mortgage covered bond holders have the same rights with the other creditors over the other assets of the issuer.

Limits stated in Article 13 of the CML shall not be applicable for the issuance of mortgage covered bonds. Issue limits, issuing requirements, the contracts made for the purpose of protecting the assets in the cover pool from risks and the procedure for registration of these securities with the CMB shall be determined by the CMB. Apart from the issues mentioned above, CMB is authorized to make regulations in any issue related to the mortgage covered bonds if deemed necessary.

1.2.2. Asset Covered Bonds

As per the Law, the mortgage finance corporations shall be defined in Article 13/B of the CML. Asset covered bonds are debt securities which are general obligations of the issuer and secured by receivables and fixed assets. Eligible issuers, issue limits, issue requirements, types of assets that can be used as cover assets, limitations regarding types of cover assets, registration and valuation of cover assets and reporting standards regarding asset covered bonds shall be determined by the CMB.

Material specifications of the asset covered bonds are set forth below:

  1. The CMB may oblige the issuers to appoint a cover monitor. The cover monitor has to inspect the existence and quality of the cover assets, establishment of the cover pools, and registration of the assets in the cover pools, and has to report to the issuer and the CMB.
  2. The cover monitor is entitled to demand any kind of information from the issuer, registration agency and the title offices, to inspect relevant records and to get information from the employees. The issuer, registration agency and the title offices are required to provide the information and documents requested by the cover monitor. If the cover monitor is blocked from reaching the information and/or documents he requested, he is obliged to inform the CMB immediately.
  3. Until the asset covered bonds are redeemed, the assets in the cover pool cannot be used for any purposes other than securing the asset covered bonds, cannot be pledged, cannot be used as collateral, cannot be attached including the collection of the public receivables, cannot be subject to precautionary measure decisions of courts and cannot be included into the bankruptcy process.
  4. The CMB may oblige registration of the assets in the cover pool also with a third party registration agency provided that the consent of the BRSB is obtained.
  5. The qualifications of the cover monitor shall be determined by the CMB. The CMB may request the replacement of the cover monitor or may replace the cover monitor ex officio.

1.3. Funds

The Law specifies two types of funds "Housing Finance Fund" and "Asset Finance Fund". According to the Law, these two types of funds shall be defined in Articles 38/B and 39/C of the CML.

1.3.1. Housing Finance Fund

As per the Law, the housing finance fund shall be defined in Article 38/B of the CML. The housing finance fund is a property established by means of the funds collected in return for mortgage backed securities issued on behalf of the mortgage backed securities' holders, in accordance with the principle of fiduciary ownership.

Material specifications of the housing finance fund are set forth below:

  1. The founders, intermediaries of disbursement for the loans that are included in the fund portfolio and related transactions, the fund establishment limit, the assets to be taken into the fund portfolio including contracts done for the purpose of hedging these assets against the decrease in value or increasing the credit valuation, the portfolio restrictions, and the conditions to issue and register the mortgage backed securities with the CMB are determined by the CMB. The founders may provide guarantee for the mortgage backed securities issued.
  2. The fund has is not a legal entity however its assets are separate from its founder's assets. Until mortgage backed securities issued by the fund are redeemed, the assets of the fund cannot be used for purposes other than the ones stated in the Law, may not be pledged or used as collateral, cannot be attached and cannot even be subject to precautionary measure decisions of courts, cannot be included into the bankruptcy process, even for the purpose of the collection of government receivables.
  3. The board of the fund shall represent, manage or supervise the management of the fund in such a manner as to protect the rights of the holders of the mortgage backed securities. The board of fund is responsible for the protection and the custody of the fund assets. The conditions for the board of fund and the principles and methods related to the management of the fund assets are determined by the CMB.
  4. The provisions of the Code of Obligations regarding the procuration shall apply to the relationship between the founder, the board of fund and the mortgage backed securities' holders, so long as the Law and related regulations do not provide otherwise.
  5. The CMB is granted the authority to require that the bookkeeping and the custody of the fund assets be held by another registration entity.
  6. In case of having the credits backed by collateral or the receivables arising from the financial leases for real estate in the fund portfolio, the matter of assignment of the credit and the receivables to the fund is registered with the column of statement of the relevant real property in the land registry. In case of having the credits backed by collateral or the receivables arising from the financial leases for a real estate in the fund portfolio, the CMB may require that the collateral or the ownership (in case of financial leases) be registered to the title register under the name of the founder on behalf of the fund.
  7. The statute (trust indenture) of the fund is a contract between investors, the founder, and the board of fund, if there is, which consists of the conditions involving the management of the fund portfolio in accordance with the provisions of proxy agreement and custody of the fund portfolio in accordance with the principle of fiduciary ownership.
  8. Founders are obliged to apply to the CMB with the status of the fund and necessary documents to be determined by the CMB, in order to establish the fund and to register the mortgage backed securities to be issued.
  9. Different classes of mortgage backed securities for different classes of fund portfolios may be issued. The principles regarding the classes of mortgage backed securities and the rights arising from a certain class of mortgage backed securities must be specified in the statute of the fund.
  10. The CMB determines the principles and methods regarding the valuation standards for the fund assets, the principles of the operation and the management of the fund, the merger, the close up and the liquidation of the fund, the scope of the portfolio management and the custody contracts, the conversion of the fund, and the registration and announcement of the fund.
  11. In case of a failure of the issuer or the fund to repay, the CMB may require that the fund be managed and represented by the Investor Protection Fund, or another board of fund, designated by the CMB. In that case, the founder keeps the liability to repay, in full and in due time, the portion of the securities issued which cannot be paid by the fund portfolio provided that the founder has procured a guarantee. The board of the fund is authorized to pay to the designated board of the fund and Investor Protection Fund, from the fund assets in consideration of their services within the scope of this article and also authorized to determine the procedures and principles regarding the calculation of the payment.
  12. The CMB is granted the authority to take the necessary actions in case of a bankruptcy or liquidation of the founder of the fund or bankruptcy of the members of the board of fund.

1.3.2. Asset Finance Fund

As per the Law, the asset finance fund shall be defined in Article 38/C of the CML. The asset finance fund is a property established by means of the funds collected in return for the asset backed securities issued on behalf of the asset backed securities' holders, in accordance with the principle of fiduciary ownership. The assets to be held by the fund portfolio are determined by the CMB.

All the provisions of the article 1.3.1 above other the first paragraph are also applicable for the asset finance fund.

1.4. Other Material Amendments On The Law No.2499

1.4.1. According to the Article 13 of the Law, Article 39 of the Law No. 2499 has been amended as follows:

"Other capital market institutions are institution whose establishment and principles of operation are determined by the CMB, including institutions which are engaged in clearing and settlement functions, rating of the capital market instruments, institutions which are engaged in the supervision of issuers and capital market institutions, companies which carry out capital market activities such as investment consulting and portfolio management, assets management companies, mortgage finance corporations, housing finance funds, asset finance funds, venture capital mutual funds, venture capital investment companies, future transaction intermediary institutions, real estate appraisal companies to operate in capital markets and portfolio custody companies."

1.4.2. According to Article 20 of the Law, the following Temporary Articles have been added to the Law No. 2499

Temporary Article 10 - The Statutes of Occupational Association of Real Estate Appraisal Specialists of Turkey shall be put into force within maximum two years from the date that this Law goes into effect. Those who have a license for real estate appraisal, are obliged to apply to the CMB for membership in Occupational Association of Real Estate Appraisal Specialists of Turkey within this period.

These membership applications shall be concluded by the CMB. The CMB shall call the Association members to their first general assembly meeting within one month after the Statutes go into force. The costs related to the first meeting will be assumed by the CMB until the organs of the Association is formed.

Temporary Article 11 – The consumers, who are a party to the loan and financial leasing agreements drawn up in line with the housing finance, before this Article comes into effect, may apply to the Housing Finance Corporation which is a party to the agreement within three months as of the effective date of this Article and may request the evaluation of the subject-transaction of this agreement outside of the scope of the housing finance. For the consumers who did not apply within due time and whose agreements have been drawn up before entry into force of this Article, such agreements shall be evaluated within the scope of Paragraph 1 of Article 38/A of the Law No. 2499. Regarding the agreements which have been executed pursuant to the Law No. 4077 before the entry into force of this Article, in the event that the debt has been paid before its maturity, the provisions set forth in Paragraph 4 of Article 10 of the Law No. 4077 shall be applied.

Temporary Article 12 – Financial leasing companies and finance companies shall not enter into any transaction regarding housing finance within 6 months as of the effective date of the Article 38/A of the Law No.2499.



2. Execution And Bankruptcy Law

The intention behind the amendments in the Execution and Bankruptcy Law (Law No. 2004) (published in the Official Gazette Dated June 19, 1932 and No. 2128) (as amended) (the "Execution and Bankruptcy Law") is to reduce the foreclosure periods which can last for up to 2-3 years in the current Turkish foreclosure system in order that the investors will show interest to the mortgage capital market instruments and will not be more cautious and hinder the development of the market. Such amendments are summarized below;

2.1. Foreclosure Of Mortgage Process

Under general principles of the Turkish Execution and Bankruptcy Law, the receivables which are secured by a pledge may be collected only by way of foreclosure of the pledge and the creditor cannot commence attachment or bankruptcy procedures against the debtors. Only in the case of insufficiency of the pledge amount, proceeding through bankruptcy or attachment shall be possible. By the Law, the creditors shall be granted with the option right to choose to proceed by way of either attachment or foreclosure of pledge against the debtors for the collection of the receivables arising out of the housing finance and for the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of Mass Housing Administration (the "MHA").

2.2. Appraisal Of The Properties

The Law provides that in the foreclosure of the receivables arising out of the housing finance and the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of the MHA, the appraisal of the real property subject to the foreclosure shall be performed by the individuals or appraisal firms authorized and licensed by the CMB. By this provision the Law aims to regulate that valuation of the properties are performed by the professional qualified appraisers who meet the certain criteria of the CML, thus improving the quality of the service as well as minimizing the number of the objections to those valuations.

2.3. Expert Investigation

The Law provides that in case where a judge determines that an expert investigation shall be made in relation to the property subject to the foreclosure of the receivables arising out of the housing finance and in relation to the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of the MHA, such investigation shall be made by individuals or appraisal firms who are authorized and licensed by the CMB.

2.4. Three Years Transition Period For The Appraisers And Experts

The Law envisages that following the three years starting from the enactment of Sub-Paragraph 3 of Article 128 and Sub-Paragraph 2 of Article 128/a of the Law No. 2004, the appraisal and expert examination in the foreclosure of the receivables arising from housing finance and in relation to the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of the MHA may be conducted by other appraisers and experts in addition to qualified appraisers under the CMB. At the end of such three years, only the appraisers or experts who are qualified under the CMB may make relevant appraisals and the expert examinations.

The Law foresees that a three years transition period should pass for the development, harmonization, organization and profession standards of the qualified and licensed appraisers and authorized appraisal firms. Therefore, in this three year transition period other experts and appraisers may serve to the system in addition to the licensed ones.

2.5. Penalty Amount In Cancellation Of The Auction

The Law provides that in case the property subject to the foreclosure of the receivables arising out of the housing finance and the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of the MHA are determined to be sold to a bidder in a legal auction, the creditor or the debtor shall have the right to claim for the cancellation of such auction. However, in case the court decides not to accept the claim of such party, then such Party shall be required to pay 20% of the auction amount as a monetary penalty where such amount is regulated as 10% of the auction amount in other receivables. By this provision, the Law aims to prevent the misuse of such cancellation right for the legal auctions via increasing the fine rate applied.

2.6. Collateral Amount For The Appeal Of The Foreclosure Suspension

Under the general principles of the Execution and Bankruptcy Law, the court may decide for the suspension of execution procedures commenced against the debtors under certain circumstances. In such case the debtor/s or the relevant parties have the right to appeal the relevant decision of the court by depositing 15% of the debt amount subject to the procedure. Under the Law, such amount shall be increased up to 30% of the receivables for the foreclosure proceedings in relation to housing finance and for the collection of the receivables secured by a pledge of the MHA. As a result of such increase, the Law aims to prevent misuse of such appeal rights.

3. The Amendments In The Various Tax Laws

Certain tax considerations and amendments provided by the Law are summarized below:

3.1. Income Tax Amendments

According to Article 28 of the Law, the income generated from the mortgage capital market instruments (except income generated from the mortgage backed securities issued by Mortgage Finance Corporations and Housing Finance Corporations) issued by Mortgage Finance Corporations and Housing Finance Corporations or issued representing Housing Finance Funds and Asset Finance Funds shall be subject to withholding tax and such withholding tax rate shall be determined according to Article 94 of Income Tax Law. Article 94 of the Income Tax Law provides that the Council of Ministers is entitled to determine the rate of such withholding tax.

3.2. Exemptions For Banking And Insurance Taxes

According to the Law: (a) the monies gained by banks, insurance companies, pension companies and mortgage finance corporations as a result of disposal of their company stocks above nominal values during their establishment and capital increases; (b) the monies gained from all transactions (including the transactions in foreign currencies) within the scope of housing finance carried out by Mortgage Finance Corporations, Housing Finance Corporations and Housing Finance Funds; and (c) the monies gained from insurance agreement and policies within the scope of housing finance shall be exempt from banking and insurance tax.

3.3. Exemptions For Certain Charges

According to the Law: (a) all the mortgage transactions carried out within the scope of housing finance by Mortgage Finance Corporations and Housing Finance Corporations; and (b) transfer of the houses which are leased via financial lease within the scope of housing finance to the lessor shall be exempt from charges.

In addition, according to the Law, charges at the rate of 0.54% of the amount that is the subject of the dispute shall be taken when a decision on the merits rendered with regard to demands of cancellation of auctions in the foreclosure of the receivables arising from housing finance is refused. Aforementioned rate may be reduced to 0.10% by Council of Ministers' decision.

The Law also provides that the collection charges applied by the enforcement offices for the execution of secured receivables within the scope of housing finance shall be applied as ¼ of the regular duties.

According to the Article 33 of the Law, 50% charter, certificate and diploma duty charged over the amount of fees applied by Istanbul Stock Exchange for the transactions therein and Capital Markets Board registration fees in such respect, has been cancelled.

3.4. Stamp Duty Exemptions

According to the Law, papers issued in relation to: (i) all housing finance transactions including the issuance of mortgaged capital markets instruments, asset backed securities by Housing Finance Corporations; and (ii) all housing finance transactions including issuance of mortgaged capital markets instruments, asset backed securities by Mortgage Finance Corporations and Housing Finance Funds including the establishment of the same shall be exempt from stamp duty taxes.

3.6. VAT Exemptions

According to the Article 35 of the Law, the delivery of the residences which have been provided as a security or mortgaged for housing finance to Mortgage Finance Corporations, Housing Finance Funds, Mass Housing Administration and third parties or delivery of the residence acquired in such respect by the same (except 3rd parties) is exempted from VAT.

4. Consumer Protection Law

The Law, besides other laws, brings new amendments and developments in relation to housing finance in the Consumer Protection Law (Law No. 4077) (the "Consumer Protection Law"). The most material amendments on the Consumer Protection Law are summarized below:

4.1. Joint Liability

According to the Law, the lender granting loans in accordance with Sub-Paragraph 5 of Article 10 and Sub-Paragraph 9 of Article 10/B of the Law No. 4077 shall be jointly liable to the consumers together with the producer, manufacturer, seller, dealer, agent, supplier etc. under the following circumstances;

  1. The lender granting loan in accordance with Sub-Paragraph 5 of Article 10 and Sub-Paragraph 9 of Article 10/B of the Law No. 4077 shall be jointly liable to the consumer together with manufacturer, producer, seller, dealer, agent, and/or importer for the defective good and the alternative rights of the consumer, up to the credit amount and for 1 year following the delivery of the defective good. In the event that the loan is assigned by the housing finance corporation to another corporation, the joint liability of the housing finance corporation shall remain and the assignee shall have no responsibilities within the relevant provision of the Law No.4077.
  2. The lender granting loan in accordance with Sub-Paragraph 5 of Article 10 and Sub-Paragraph 9 of Article 10/B of the Law No. 4077 shall be jointly liable to the consumer with the seller, supplier, dealer, agent, manufacturer-producer, and/or importer up to the credit amount in the event that delivery of the house announced or undertaken has not been affected at all, in time or duly. In the event that the loan is assigned by the housing finance corporation to another corporation, the joint liability of the housing finance shall remain and the assignee shall have no responsibilities within the relevant provision of the Law No. 4077.

4.2. Standards Of The Housing Finance Agreements/Documents

According to the Law, the standards and the principles in relation to execution of the housing finance agreements/documents are determined. The most material standards are summarized below;

  1. Before entering into related loan or financial lease agreements with the consumers, Housing Finance Corporations are obliged to provide the consumers with general information regarding the loans or leasing transactions and "Pre-contractual Information Sheet" which consists of conditions of such agreements. The standards of the Pre-contractual Information Sheet shall be determined by the Ministry of Industry and Trade provided that the conceptions of the relevant authorities are obtained.
  2. In case related agreements are executed within the same day when Pre-contractual Information Sheet has been provided to the consumer, such agreements shall be invalid.
  3. The consumer shall have a right not to accept offers for loans or leases upon review of the Pre-contractual Information Sheet under housing finance.
  4. The agreements shall be required to be executed in written form where a copy of the same shall be submitted to the consumer and in the agreements are required to contain the minimum conditions stated in the Law.
  5. The conditions of the agreements may not be amended against the favor of the consumers during the term of the agreements.
  6. In case the consumer is in default for the payments, Housing Finance Corporations shall be required to serve the consumer a notice with return mail within five working days starting from the default date.
  7. In case the Borrower is in default, Housing Finance Corporation may choose the right to claim of the remaining credit amount at once on the condition that the consumer defaults on at least two consecutive payments and it should serve to the consumer at least a month notice that the payment is due.
  8. The consumer shall have the right to prepay the total sum indebted as well as to pay in one or more installments before its maturity. In either case, Housing Finance Corporation is obliged to make necessary deductions in interest and fees corresponding to the sum prepaid. The Council of Ministers shall determine the principles and guidelines for determination of the extent to which the deduction in interest and fees shall be made corresponding to the sum prepaid.
  9. Housing Finance Corporations are obliged to put the housing immediately up for sale in the event that the financial leasing agreement is terminated due to consumers default in payment.
  10. In the event of a personal guarantee, the Housing Finance Corporation may not claim payment from the guarantor before applying to the consumer and other securities.
  11. Payments of the loan granted for Housing Finance may not be bound to securities. In case that a security is obtained from the consumer, the consumer has the right to demand back such security from the Housing Finance Corporation.
  12. Interest rate for Housing Finance Loans may be determined as in the system of fixed, floating or as in both systems for the same loan.

5. Financial Leasing Law

According to Article 26 of the Law, the following paragraphs are added to the Article 15 of Financial Leasing Law No. 3226 dated June 10, 1985:

In transactions of financial leasing, which finances the consumers' housing activities and investments, the lessee may transfer its capacity as a lessee and/or its rights and/or liabilities arising out of the agreement; provided that written consent of the lessor is obtained. Change of the lessee made in the financial leasing agreement due to such a transfer is registered and annotated within the frame of Article 8 of Law No.3226.

In case of financial leasing transactions carried out within the frame of the housing finance, the lessee may transfer possession of the property, subject matter of the financial leasing; provided that it notifies the lessor; and in case of other financial leasing transactions, it may transfer the same; provided that a relevant provision is included in the agreement.

6. Mass Housing Law

According to Article 27 of the Law, the following article is added to the Mass Housing Law No. 2985 dated March 2, 1984:

Supplement Article 10- The mortgaged and unmortgaged receivables of the Mass Housing Administration arising out of the sale of the houses can be acquired and transferred by mortgage finance corporations.

This memorandum of law may not be taken into consideration as general advice for any other matters, similar or otherwise.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.