What does my Tapu say? What is a Tapu?

A Tapu for Turkish property is often referred to in English as a title deed, but it is not a deed. The term ‘deed’ has a specific legal meaning in English, and the legal meaning of the term ‘deed’ does not apply to a Turkish Tapu.

A Tapu is a certificate ...

 Is my property kat irtifaki of kat mulkiyeti? What does my tapu say? This is a question often asked by foreign property owners in Turkey. Why? The reason is because a kat mulkiyeti tapu shows a property has received a Building Utilisation Permit and is thus licensed for use as a residential ...

Is my property legal? Do I have a habitation certificate? What is a habitation certificate?

These questions are frequently asked by foreign property owners in Turkey. And with some trepidation, fearing the answer will be for the worst.

To begin with, let’s clear up some common misconceptio...