Turkey: How To Evict A Tenant If She Has A House In Turkey?

f the tenant has her own house, she can be evicted. For this, it is necessary that the landlord is unaware that the tenant or her spouse has their own residence at the time of signing the lease agreement. Additionally, the mentioned residence must be suitable for the tenant and their family to live in, and it must be located within the same municipal boundaries as the rented property. The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that everyone adheres to principles of honesty.

The contractual relationship between the tenant and the landlord is primarily based on trust. The possibility of evicting a tenant who has own house depends on whether this fact has been concealed from the landlord. This is because the tenant's unfair behavior in this regard would damage the trust relationship between the landlord and tenant and lead to the tenant's unjust enrichment. The situation of unjust enrichment arises when the tenant rents out their own house at a higher price while living in a more affordable rented property, and this is concealed from the landlord. In this article, we will examine the legal basis and conditions for the eviction of a tenant who possesses their own house and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

Legal Basis for Eviction When the Tenant Has Her Own House

The provision regulating the eviction of a tenant who possesses their own house is stipulated in Article 352, Paragraph 3 of the Turkish Code of Obligations. The relevant article states, "If the landlord, at the time of concluding the lease agreement, is unaware that the tenant or the spouse living together with the tenant has a suitable house within the boundaries of the same district or municipality, the landlord may terminate the lease agreement through a lawsuit starting from the end of the contract."

Conditions for Evicting a Tenant Who Has Own House

Tenants can only be evicted in the presence of reasons specified by law. These reasons include the tenant or the spouse having a house within the same district or municipality boundaries, the house being suitable for habitation, the landlord being unaware of the tenant's ownership of their own house at the time of signing the lease agreement, and the lawsuit being filed within one month after the end of the lease period.

The Tenant or the Spouse Having a House in the Same Municipality Boundaries

The first condition for the eviction of a tenant who has their own house is that the house must belong to the tenant or the spouse, and it must be located within the boundaries of the same municipality. In this context, the concept of being within the same municipality refers to the district or municipal boundaries. Therefore, for properties located within the boundaries of metropolitan municipalities, this regulation may not be applicable. Therefore, the boundaries should be clearly determined, and a legal strategy should be created accordingly.

Furthermore, the house must belong to the tenant or the spouse living together. Therefore, if there is any separation decision between the tenant and their spouse, this provision cannot be applied. Therefore, during the lawsuit, the tenant and their spouse must be living together.

Suitability of the House for Habitation

The presence of a house belonging to the tenant or their spouse within the same municipal boundaries is not sufficient for eviction. This house must also be suitable for the tenant's and their family's lifestyles and must be of a quality that allows them to live in it. For example, if the tenant has a family of 6 people and owns a one-bedroom apartment within the same municipal boundaries, it is not considered sufficient for eviction.

Landlord Must be Unaware of the Tenant's Ownership at the Time of Signing the Contract

Another condition for the eviction of a tenant who has their own house is that the landlord must not have been aware of the tenant's ownership of a house at the time of signing the contract. This provision is based on the trust that the tenant and the landlord have towards each other during the pre-contract phase. Indeed, the principle of honesty is one of the fundamental principles of law, and parties should behave honestly towards each other and avoid actions that harm each other. The situation where the landlord is unaware of the tenant owning their own house can occur in the form of the tenant concealing this fact or the tenant or their spouse acquiring a residence later on. Therefore, if the tenant has their own house within the same municipal boundaries after signing the lease agreement, it can be formed as a reason for eviction.

Filing a Lawsuit Within 1 Month from the End of the Contract

Another condition for the eviction of a tenant who has own house is that a lawsuit must be filed within 1 month after the end of the lease period. Just like in eviction cases based on two valid notices, eviction due to necessity, and eviction due to renovation, a lawsuit must be filed within 1 month after the end of the lease period in cases based on this reason. This period is strict, and failure to file a lawsuit within the specified time will result in the loss of the right to file a lawsuit. Therefore, utmost care should be taken, and legal assistance from a lawyer should be sought.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can the landlord evict the tenant if the tenant has own house?
  
  Yes, the landlord can initiate eviction proceedings if the tenant has her own house. Even if the tenant or her spouse purchases a house after signing the lease agreement, the tenant can still be evicted. However, it is necessary for the landlord to be unaware of the tenant's ownership at the time of signing the lease agreement.
  
  
• How can a tenant who has their own house be evicted?
  
  If the tenant has their own house, the landlord can file an eviction lawsuit within one month from the end of the lease agreement.
  
  
• Is the lawsuit for eviction due to renovation subject to mediation?
  
  Yes, with the law on the Amendments on the Execution and Bankruptcy Law and Other Laws No. 7445, also known as the 7th Judicial Reform Package, and the Law No. 6325 on Mediation in Civil Law Disputes, disputes arising from tenancy relationships have been included within the scope of mandatory mediation. Since the regulation entered into force on September 1st, 2023, it is mandatory to resort to mediation for cases filed after this date.

CONCLUSION

If the tenant has her own house, she can be evicted. For this, it is necessary that the landlord is unaware that the tenant or her spouse has own residence at the time of signing the lease agreement. Additionally, the mentioned residence must be suitable for the tenant and their family to live in, and it must be located within the same municipal boundaries as the rented property. The purpose of this regulation is to ensure that everyone adheres to principles of honesty. After all, the landlord-tenant relationship is built on trust, and the erosion of trust makes the contract intolerable for both parties. To prevent this, the legislator has provided the landlord with the opportunity to terminate the contract in such cases. For a tenant to be evicted, all the necessary conditions must be met. Each specific case should be evaluated within its own context, and seeking legal assistance from eviction lawyers in Turkey is strongly recommended. Otherwise, significant time and financial losses may occur.

Inflation and the 25% rent increase limit adversely affect rental prices. As a result, parties are suffering negativities. If the necessary conditions are not met for an eviction lawsuit based on the tenant's having own house, other eviction reasons can be explored, or if the conditions are met, a rent determination lawsuit or a rent adjustment lawsuit can be filed.

Originally published  17 August 2023.

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.