Landlords concerned over plans for tax on empty houses

The rent crisis, which has been affecting millions of citizens for more than two years, has become one of the priorities of the public.

Last year, a 25 percent cap on rent increases was imposed by the government, and the deadline was extended this year.

However, the limit did not solve the problem and led to an increase in disputes between landlords and tenants. Landlords who found the rent increase unacceptable took different paths. Some put their houses up for sale, some rented out the empty house at high prices because they could not make the desired increase, and some said, "Let my house remain empty."

While housing production was low, the supply problem grew as more people left their houses empty. The public has now put these empty houses on the agenda.

The Real Estate Investors Association (GYODER) announced that there are 700,000 empty houses in Istanbul alone, called "ghost houses," and even with a margin of error, the number is estimated to be at least around 500,000.

Türkiye, similar to many countries around the world, is planning to tax empty houses in order to increase the number of rental units. Although the terms of the tax are not yet clear, the news alone was enough to make homeowners uneasy.

Industry representatives, who expect the number of houses for sale to increase in the coming period, also warned against fake contracts.

Hakan Akdoğan, founding president of the All Entrepreneur Real Estate Consultants Association (TÜGEM), said that in recent months, many homeowners especially want to keep their houses empty.

"The introduction of a 25 percent limit on rent increases, as well as the long years of determination and eviction lawsuits due to increasing disputes, have pushed property owners...