01.09.2026 13:31
Serkan Sürmeli, who stated that his house was destroyed in the February 6 earthquakes in Hatay and that he was not considered a rights holder due to the problems he experienced, claimed that he was defrauded in an earthquake housing unit he wanted to buy by paying 1 million TL to build a new life. Sürmeli, who said he learned that the same house had been sold to 6 other people besides himself while waiting for the title deed transfer, filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office when he could not reach the homeowner.
Serkan Sürmeli, who lost his home in the earthquake, claimed that he was victimized this time because of the house he wanted to buy. Sürmeli alleged that the house, for which he paid 1 million TL, was sold to 7 people in total, and he resorted to legal action.
HIS HOUSE WAS DESTROYED IN THE EARTHQUAKE, HE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A RIGHTS HOLDER Serkan Sürmeli, living in the Antakya district of Hatay, had his house destroyed in the February 6 earthquakes. Stating that he was not considered a rights holder due to the problems he experienced, Sürmeli decided to buy a house from the earthquake residences to build a new life with his family. Sürmeli, who made an agreement with a rights holder to buy a house, paid 1 million TL. Since the title deed and payment method for the earthquake residences were to be determined as of the new year, he began to wait for the title deed transfer.
HE WENT TO MOVE IN AND EXPERIENCED THE SHOCK OF HIS LIFE According to Sürmeli's claim, the truth emerged when he took action to move into his new house after the schools closed. Sürmeli stated that he learned the house, for which he paid 1 million TL, was sold to 6 other people besides himself. Describing what he went through, Sürmeli said, "When we came to move in when schools closed, we learned that he had sold the house to 6 more people. The tenant also said that the same situation was frequently experienced. When I go to public institutions, no one is interested. When we call his phones, we cannot reach him, and we heard that he fled out of town. We have been left in a truly difficult situation. My goal is that others do not experience the fraud I experienced. People are being victimized by being told that title deeds will be given at the new year; everyone should be careful. Do not make payments before getting your title deed. We have filed a complaint, even if he does not answer his phone, our state will do what is necessary. I am newly married, have a small child, and I am awaiting an urgent solution."
"HE DECEIVED HIM BY SAYING HE HAD FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF LOAN SHARKS" Sürmeli, stating that he knew the person he agreed with to buy the house from before, reported that he was told the house urgently needed to be sold. Sürmeli said, "Our state built these houses for earthquake victims, and there are houses as far as the eye can see. We bought an apartment from a rights holder citizen in the building visible behind me; even though we were rights holders, it had not been given to us. I had bought a house to build a new life, and we learned that the same person sold the house to 6 more people. He is nowhere to be found now; we have filed the necessary criminal complaint to the prosecutor's office. We had paid 1 million TL for the house, we started to wait for the title deed because the transfer was to be given at the beginning of the year, and this is how we were deceived. He was someone we knew; he deceived us by saying he had fallen into the hands of loan sharks and needed to sell the house urgently," he stated.
HE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE Sürmeli, stating that he could not reach the person he paid by phone, filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office after the events. Sürmeli, saying he was newly married and had a small child, while awaiting the resolution of his grievances, also warned those considering buying a house in a similar way not to make payments before the title deed transfer is completed.