11.05.2026 17:40
Payments made to someone not named in the lease agreement can suddenly put the tenant out on the street. Lawyers point out that payments made to spouses, children, or third parties do not relieve the tenant of their debt and may pose a risk of eviction. Additionally, there are serious penalties for both tenants and landlords when rent is paid in cash.
Property owners innocently requesting that rent be paid to a third party not mentioned in the contract is causing trouble for tenants.
EVICTION SHOCK FOR TENANTS PAYING RENT TO SOMEONE ELSE
Lawyers emphasize that paying rent to an account other than that of the landlord (lessor) named in the contract does not legally terminate the debt and may expose the tenant to the risk of eviction.
SERIOUS PENALTIES FOR BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS
Ahmet Muaz Gezgin, a lawyer from the Bursa Bar Association, noted that the penalty for cash rent payments entered into law in 2024 with the Income Tax General Communiqué, and reminded that the regulation made it mandatory to pay rent via bank or postal services. Attorney Gezgin explained that there are serious penalties for both tenants and landlords who make cash rent payments, stating that a penalty of 10% of the rent amount is imposed in case of cash payment. Attorney Gezgin said: "A minimum penalty of 28,000 TL is imposed for first-class merchants and self-employed individuals. A minimum penalty of 14,000 TL is applied for second-class merchants, farmers keeping books, and those whose income is determined by the simple method. For other taxpayers, a minimum penalty of 7,000 TL is imposed."
HEED THESE WARNINGS TO AVOID VICTIMIZATION
Attorney Ahmet Muaz Gezgin stated that payments made to spouses, children, or third parties do not relieve the tenant of legal responsibility, and listed the points to consider when paying rent to someone else as follows: "If payment is to be made to the landlord's spouse, child, or relative, this must be provable with a written document or contract annex. The payment period should be clearly written as month and year in the bank transfer. The safest way is to deposit the rent directly into the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the property owner listed in the contract. Paying a third party may lead to enforcement proceedings and an eviction lawsuit by the landlord on the grounds that the rent was not paid."