THE NEVER-ENDING CRAZY STORIES OF ISTANBUL LANDLORDS
Ah, Istanbul… a city of magic, chaos, and apparently, some very creative landlords. Now, I’m not saying every landlord is a nightmare, but from my experience (and my friends’, both Turkish and foreign), renting here can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope over a pit of… well, sewage.
So, story time. Picture this: the excitement of living alone for the first time, only to realize it might be the worst decision of your life. I rented a one bedroom apartment from a seemingly sweet, kind man with a small family. They were lovely, they invited me for tea now and then. What could go wrong, right?
Well… first mistake: I didn’t know that living in the same building as your landlord could be a trap. At first, everything seemed fine. Then, after I’d signed the contract, they told me all the bills would be in their name. I had no idea how this worked and agreed. Long story short, I ended up paying way more than my fair share for utilities I barely used. Basically, I was just paying their bills.
Then came the rent hike. Three months in, they raised my rent by 33%. Yes. Thirty-three percent. Their reasoning? I was a foreigner, and the dollar was increasing. I was completely shocked, but at the time, I paid, partly because they hinted, I could be kicked out if I didn’t.
The house itself was another adventure. The sewage system clogged constantly, and whenever it did, apparently it was my fault. After one particularly annoying clog, I decided to leave for a few days. Three days later, I was told to vacate the building in…. wait for it…three days. They even offered I could leave my furniture while paying rent… but also cut the water. No shower, no cooking, no toilet. I was done. I left everything behind and rented a room elsewhere.
Here’s what I learned about surviving Istanbul rentals:
- Never live in the same building as your landlord, unless they’re genuinely kind. Distance matters.
- Know your rights. In Turkey, a proper contract protects you: landlords can’t evict you arbitrarily, rent hikes are regulated, and you’re generally safe for up to five years if the contract is proper.
- Document everything. Bills, maintenance requests, communications, save it all.
I’ll say this: I eventually met a kind landlord, so all is not lost. But trust me, if you want to survive Istanbul rentals without losing your mind (or your savings), take my advice seriously.