The Turkish Title Deed, or TAPU, is a legal document establishing a property’s ownership rights. The General Directorate of Land Register and Cadaster (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü – TKGM) is responsible for the registration and archiving of title deeds in Turkey. Every city in the country has a title deed office run by TKGM. This institution has been passed down from the Ottoman Empire to the modern Turkish Republic.
There are various kinds of title deeds in Turkey based on the nature of the real estate and ownership. It can be broken down into two categories: Blue Tapu and Red Tapu.
The Blue Tapu is written with the land title and shared ownership in mind. It is issued for real estate that does not fit within the urban planning scheme and is primarily used for agriculture. Shared titleholders typically have less control over the property and are not allowed to take out a mortgage on the property.
The Red Tapu is a freehold title that indicates individual ownership of the units listed on the Turkish title deed. It is often referred to as construction servitude and is divided into two types:
Kat İrtifakı: used for properties in the “under-construction ” phase.
Kat Mülkiyeti: used for properties that have been inspected by local municipality officials and given an Iskaan, or residence license, which allows a title of deed to be translated to the next level, full ownership.
Devre Mülk: a title that allows you to buy a fractional or timeshare share of the property.
How to Obtain a Turkish Title Deed
Obtaining a Turkish title deed is a straightforward procedure when you purchase property in Turkey. Uniq Real Estate will guide you through this process and help you obtain ownership of your property.
What Documents Are Needed?
Before title deed transfer can occur, the following documents must be provided:
- Buyer’s Tax Number (Vergi Numarası)
- Passport photocopy and a translation
- Appraisal report • Seller’s ID card or Passport
- Fair Market Valuation (Rayıç document)
To obtain a title deed (TAPU), the buyer and the seller (or their designated representative with a Power of Attorney document) must be presented at the Tapu office along with the documents. The buyer can prepare these documents, or Uniq’s sales experts can do it for you. Once all the documents have been submitted and verified, the title deed will be issued with the help of a sworn translator if necessary.
Obtaining a Turkish Title Deed (TAPU)
The steps to obtaining a TAPU or Turkish title deed involve:
Step 1: Establish who will pay the title deed fee.
Step 2: Submit an application to the local municipality and pay the applicable property tax.
Step 3: Schedule an appointment with the General Directorate of Land Registry after submitting the application.
Step 4: Pay the necessary fees.
Step 5: Both the buyer and seller must appear at the Land Registry for the appointment.
Fees for Obtaining a Turkish Title Deed
Certain expenses are associated with the title deed transfer when buying or selling real estate in Turkey. The Turkish title deed transfer fee, often called stamp duty tax, is 4% of the purchase price. This tax is due when the title deed transfer or exchange is completed at the sale or purchase. Generally, the seller will set the price and the buyer pays the commission.
How Long Does it Take to Receive the Title Deed in Turkey?
The Tapu title deed transfer process usually takes 3-5 days. The buyer makes payments to the Tapu Office on the last day of the process. Once you have received your property ownership we can help you with the water and electricity subscription process.
