14.10.2026 15:19
In Hatay, rents have started to rise again as the delivery of earthquake housing, the emptying of container cities, and the appointment period coincided. According to real estate agent Jülide Özkan, TOKİ rents, which were 7,000–13,000 lira at the beginning of the year, rose to 10,000–15,000 lira, and in reserve areas to 15,000–20,000 lira. Özkan warned that selling homes whose title deeds have not been issued for 1.5–2 million lira by contract carries serious risks.
With the delivery of housing built after the earthquake in Hatay, there was movement in the rental market. Real estate agent Jülide Özkan stated that rents in TOKİ housing vary between 10,000 and 15,000 TL, while in housing in reserve areas they range between 15,000 and 20,000 TL, and said that prices vary according to the features of the apartment. Özkan drew attention to the fact that selling housing whose title deeds have not yet been issued by contract carries risk.
In Hatay, where thousands of buildings were razed to the ground in the disaster of the century, rental prices had increased by 100 percent in 2023. The earthquake housing delivered together with the reconstruction and construction work carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in the city also affected rental prices. In the process that followed, while the rightful owners of a total of 98,074 independent units were determined, citizens continue to settle into their new homes. In the city, where rental prices peaked in 2023 when the earthquake occurred, with the delivery of housing and families settling in, serious declines were experienced in rental prices in the first quarter of 2026. Stating that the rental prices of apartments vary according to the floors they are on and their distance from the city, real estate agent Jülide Özkan said that the lowest rental price in earthquake housing in the city was 10,000 TL and the highest rental price was around 20,000 TL.
TOKİ RENTS RISE TO 15,000 LIRA
Stating that in the first months of the year rental prices were 7,000 to 13,000 TL, while now they have risen to around 10,000 to 15,000 TL, real estate agent Jülide Özkan said, “We had also spoken earlier in the first quarter of the year. In TOKİ housing, rental prices were between 7,000 and 13,000 lira. Now housing in the reserve areas has begun to be delivered. With the delivery of the housing, the emptying of container cities, and the appointment period coinciding with the same time, there was a slight increase in rental prices. The average age of our buildings in the city center is now about 6. The fact that most of the buildings are new is also effective in increasing rental prices. Rents that were previously between 7,000 and 13,000 lira in TOKİ housing have now risen to a range of 10,000 to 15,000 lira. In housing in reserve areas, rents generally vary between 15,000 and 20,000 lira. Prices vary according to the apartment's location, number of rooms, square meters, and facade. Frankly, we expect some decrease in rental prices. Because people's ability to pay is important to us. Even if we ask for the rent we want right now, if people cannot pay it, there is no point. We always say that in the market, the price is determined by the buyer. Therefore, considering the ability to pay, we expect prices to decrease. With the increase in the number of housing units, a different situation has emerged in the market. Previously, there were old buildings, small apartments, and basement floors in the city. These housings could be rented at more affordable prices. Now, since people mostly have new apartments, landlords also demand higher rent by saying 'my apartment is brand new.' However, citizens' ability to pay these rents is quite limited,” she said.
BEWARE OF SALES WITHOUT TITLE DEEDS
Stating that citizens who want to buy TOKİ housing should buy them after their title deeds have been issued, real estate agent Jülide Özkan used the following statements: “Many of our citizens have moved out of the city, and migration is still ongoing. For this reason, some rightful owners want to sell their homes. However, since the title deeds have not yet been issued, they are trying to carry out the sales transactions through a contract. This method is not safe. People can put their savings forward trusting these contracts. However, since problems may arise regarding the legal bindingness and validity of the contract, it is necessary to be careful. The amounts paid are not small either. Amounts reaching 1.5 and 2 million lira are involved. Therefore, making a sale by contract before the title deeds are issued carries a serious risk. Frankly, it is necessary to wait for the title deeds to be issued. At the moment, it is not possible to carry out a sale or transfer of rights by contract in this way at a notary or another official institution.”