Documents and checklist for urban renewal

Why gather the documents early?

The process has short periods: 15 days to object to a risky building (riskli yapı) assessment, 15 days for a non-agreeing owner to examine an offer, at most 90 days for demolition and 30 days for a court action. A record showing when and how a notice arrived is therefore very valuable.

Keep everything in a single folder. Hold a paper copy of each document and a photo or scan on your phone, and leave the originals in a safe place at home.

Which documents should you collect?

The list below makes up the core file for most households. Your own case may need fewer or more papers, so ask the municipality (İdare) which document comes from which office.

• The title deed (tapu) record; check whether the annotations column carries a risky building note
• An identity document, and the authorisation paper of anyone acting for you
• The risky building assessment report and any objection correspondence
• Notice papers: e-Devlet notifications, a photo of the notice posted on the building, the muhtarlık announcement
• The owners' agreement decision and the contract with the contractor
• If you rent, the lease and your rent payment receipts
• Printouts of your aid applications and the related correspondence

Are your e-Devlet, e-mail and meters ready?

Notices can be posted on the building, sent through e-Devlet and announced at the neighbourhood headman's office (muhtarlık). Make sure you can log in to your e-Devlet account and your e-mail. Someone who buys a share must give the land registry an electronic notification address.

At the request of the authority, electricity, water and natural gas may be withheld from or cut off in these buildings. Photograph the meter readings before you move out and record your subscription changes in writing.

How do you make an inventory of the home and belongings?

Walk through the home room by room taking photos or short videos, with the inside of cupboards and any existing damage in view. Write the size and rough volume of large items on a list.

Prepare a separate list of valuables: make, model, serial number where there is one, and a photo of the invoice. The list helps if a damage dispute arises during the move or storage, and it is the basis for deciding whether you want insurance.

A checklist by stage of the process

The steps below follow the general order of the process. Enter the dates in your calendar from your own notices.

If you will put belongings in storage, add the storage contract, the handover photos and the room details to the same file. Atasoy Depo does a free survey, and insurance, if you want it, is settled at that stage.

• After the assessment: read the report, decide whether to object, check the annotation in the title deed
• During the agreement stage: get a written copy of every offer; check the delivery date, the completion insurance and the delay clauses in the contract
• Before evacuation: plan rent aid, temporary housing and where the belongings will go; finish the inventory and the meter photos
• During the demolition period: write the dates in the notice into your calendar; photograph the empty flat once it is cleared
• When the new flat is handed over: do not miss the takeover period; record the keys, meters and any defects in a protocol

Which papers should you keep for years?

Keep the title deed, the assessment report, the owners' agreement, the contractor contract, the completion insurance document and the handover papers of the new flat for a long time. Ask a lawyer or an accountant how long to keep each one; if possible, hold on to them indefinitely.

This chapter is general information and not legal advice. For current practice, ask the Urban Transformation Directorate or the Ministry, the municipality (İdare) and, where needed, a lawyer.