01.10.2025 21:12
In Kumköy, located between two rivers on the coast of Antalya, all the land and houses, except for the house and land owned by coffeehouse operator Recep Durmaz, belong to the villagers as shareholders. The story of this interesting situation, where there are over 700 shareholders in each parcel, dates back to 1952.
Until the Metropolitan Law in 2008, Kumköy, which was a village connected to Serik, later became a neighborhood by being attached to the Aksu district. In this village settlement, all houses except one are co-owned by all villagers.
EXCEPT FOR ONE PERSON'S LAND, EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE IS A SHAREHOLDER The story of this interesting event begins in 1952. In 1952, a cadastral survey was conducted in areas where the villagers used land and houses as possessors, without any title deeds. The villagers, who did not want to pay for title deeds, showed no interest in the two title deed officials who came to the village. Only Recep Durmaz, the owner of the village coffeehouse, was interested in the title deed officials, registering the area where Durmaz's house is located as a separate title deed and recording all other houses as co-owners. Currently, all houses in the village have all villagers as shareholders.
THE ONLY SEPARATE TITLE DEED BELONGS TO UNCLE RECEP İzzet Tekin, the former muhtar of Kumköy, narrated the interesting story of how all the lands, both fields and houses within the village, were registered with all villagers as shareholders: "One winter day, the title deed officials from Ankara came to the village. At that time, there was Uncle Recep's coffeehouse in the village, a mud-brick structure that closed 5 years ago. Only Uncle Recep was interested in the officials, no one else showed any interest. Uncle Recep offered them food and tea, hosting the friends who were conducting the cadastral survey. He took care of everything for them. Others did not show interest, saying, 'The state will collect money, we have no money.' The officials from Ankara only granted a separate title deed for the places where Uncle Recep's house, coffeehouse, and garden are located, punishing the other villagers for their indifference. They wrote all villagers as shareholders on all title deeds. Now, for example, in the place where my house is located, all villagers are shareholders. Similarly, I am also a shareholder in all other houses in the village. Each parcel has over 700 shareholders."
THE ISSUE WITH THE LANDS WAS RESOLVED 2 YEARS AGO Tekin stated that, like the village, the areas where the fields are located are also registered in the title deed as all villagers being shareholders, saying, "Two years ago, land consolidation work was done here, and this issue was resolved. However, in the developed areas within the village, approximately 500 decares in a total of 74 parcels, everyone is a shareholder with each other. Only the place where Uncle Recep's house and coffeehouse are located has a separate title deed. In the other 74 parcels in Kumköy, they have issued what the old folks call 'share title deeds.' Currently, every villager is a shareholder in every parcel. A solution for that is also awaited in terms of zoning. In our neighboring village Kundu, an application is being made, hopefully, it will come to Kumköy after Kundu. We will also have separate title deeds for the parcels where our houses are located," he expressed.
MUD-BRICK COFFEEHOUSE AND HOUSE STILL STANDING Erden Arı, the president of the Kundu Tourism Investors Association (KUYAB), a joint organization of tourism operators in the Kumköy region, stated that the mud-brick coffeehouse and house of Recep Durmaz, the hero of the interesting story in Kumköy, are still standing and have cultural value. He mentioned that it is at least an 80-year-old structure, saying, "A coffee that has challenged life for 80 years. There is a very interesting story here. In 1952, the title deed officials from Ankara told the villagers, 'We will title this place, we will give you a title deed.' The villagers gathered at the coffeehouse, but no one wanted to get a title deed. Because they said, 'If we get a title deed here, taxes will come, and we have no money to pay taxes.' Recep, the owner of the place, treated the visitors very well, feeding and taking care of them, and because he treated the friends working in the title deed office so well, they made a gesture and granted a separate title deed for the land where the house and coffeehouse are located, which is about 5 decares. Today, the only place in Kumköy with a personal title deed is this. The others have share title deeds. What makes this place special is that it is the first place to receive a title deed in Kumköy. Kumköy has one of the most exquisite coastlines in Antalya, with pristine forested areas," he said.
THE COFFEEHOUSE CLOSED 5 YEARS AGO Ahmet Öksüz, who stated that he operated the mud-brick coffeehouse in the village square for many years after Recep Durmaz passed away, said, "In previous years, Uncle Recep used to run it. He is my uncle. As everyone says, in the cadastral survey in 1952, Uncle Recep took care of everything with the title deed officials. I have no chance to remember them. I started coffee business in 1995 and closed it at the end of 2020. Our coffee has a really very old history," he said.