Condominium ownership

Condominium ownership, called kat mülkiyeti in Turkey, is the form of ownership that lets each independent unit in a completed building be registered as a separate property. The owner holds the flat or shop itself, and with it a right in the land and the common areas in proportion to the unit’s land share. The relationship is governed by Turkey’s Condominium Law (Kat Mülkiyeti Kanunu).

Units, annexes and common areas

An independent unit is a flat, office or shop that can be used on its own and has its own entrance. Some units may have annexes assigned to them, such as a storage room or a garden. Stairs, roof, foundations, shelters and lifts are common areas and belong to all owners. Showing these distinctions clearly in the drawings prevents disputes later; questions such as who owns a basement room or a roof terrace are often settled by looking at the approved drawings.

How it differs from the construction servitude

The construction servitude (kat irtifakı) is a right created before the building is finished. Once it is complete and receives its occupancy permit, the servitude is converted into condominium ownership and the land registry is updated. In a condominium building, the management plan sets rules such as how shared costs are split and how common areas are used, and the building is run through the assembly of owners. Changes to common areas or the facade may therefore need the owners’ decision.