"900% increase in rents in Kayseri."

A 900% increase was made in the rents of the houses owned by the General Directorate of Foundations in Kayseri. Citizens protested against the exorbitant increase by demonstrating.

Speaking on behalf of the citizens, the President of the Consumers Union, Mahmut Şahin, said, "We are currently in front of a building of the General Directorate of Foundations, which has tens of thousands of property owners and tens of thousands of tenants in Turkey. A rent determination was made here for the year 2025. This rent determination usually occurs through discussions between the landlord and the tenant. The General Directorate of Foundations, saying 'the property is mine, I can do as I please,' has made an increase of up to 900% in the rents for 2024 with the mentality of 'I did it, if you don't like it, leave.' Recently, there has been a contraction in housing supply due to the arrival of both refugees and earthquake victims in this area. As demand increased, prices also rose. We can understand private foundations and individuals who take advantage of this opportunity to some extent. However, the state should not take advantage of such situations. The state does not see its citizens as competitors. The state exists to lower prices, not to raise them. The General Directorate of Foundations is also affiliated with the state. Therefore, it should strive to lower prices. Raising a rent of 2,500 TL to 25,000 TL is devoid of fairness," he said.

"THEY HAVE NO CONSCIENCE"

Şahin stated, "Last year, a tenant expressed their grievances to our President, saying that their rent of 2,500 TL was raised to 7,500 TL by the landlord. The President asked that person, 'Do you have a conscience?' The same words apply to these people as well. They have no conscience. This state is a social state. And there are foundations. We are faced with a picture that is completely incompatible with the understanding of a social state and the culture of foundations. To look at the building across and say, 'Whatever the rent is there, you should do the same,' is something that an ordinary person who has never accomplished anything would say. A person who has become a regional director or a general director of foundations cannot do such a thing. Is it reasonable to compare a 15-year-old building with a newly constructed one? Does the state follow individuals? The state controls the market. We would like to say this to the General Directorate of Foundations, which tries to crush citizens by seeing them as competitors. There is 100 acres of land owned by the foundations in a place referred to as KAYKOP; why is it lying empty? There is 150 acres of land on Hacılar Road; why is it lying empty? What did you do with its old state? Why has Tekgöz Thermal Spring become dilapidated? Why is it not a concern or worry for you, yet you consider raising citizens' rents as a skill? Do you have a conscience? This does not conform to the culture of foundations. The culture of foundations and the understanding of a social state are separate. The constitution of this state does not say 'trader state'; it says 'social state.' We are faced with a foundation tradition that follows traders. The legal increase is in the range of 65-67%. They do not adhere to the law. They have not complied with the President's 25% increase from last year either. We are facing a foundation that does not obey the President's orders," he said.

"WE WANT THIS INCREASE TO BE REVERSED"

Hülya Yıldırım, a tenant living in a foundation house, said, "I am also one of the tenants of the foundations. I was living in a house for 2,500 TL. While I was expecting a 65% increase, the 900% increase has demoralized us. We do not know how we will cope with this. We have fallen into a very disadvantaged situation. What has been done is not fair at all. We want this increase to be reversed. We expect them to prevent the grievances of many people during the winter days. We also expect politicians to take steps in this regard," she stated.