Chapter 6 of 11
Planning temporary housing and rent in urban renewal
Once your building is emptied, your household needs somewhere to live and your belongings need somewhere to wait. This chapter lists what you need to know before choosing a temporary home and who to ask what.
Last updated: 2 November 2026
In brief
- In buildings evacuated by agreement, the Law says temporary housing or rent aid may be given; it is possible support, not an automatic right.
- Rent paid by a contractor comes from the contract, not the Law, so its amount and duration are whatever the contract says.
- A sensible way to plan is to take the contract's delivery date and add a safety margin of your own.
- The smaller the temporary home, the more belongings have to go into storage.
What does the Law say about temporary housing?
Under Article 5 of Law No. 6306, if a building is evacuated by agreement, owners, tenants and resident holders of limited real rights (sınırlı ayni hak) may be given temporary housing or a workplace, or rent aid, as well as construction aid. Where the application calls for it, people who use the building but fall outside that list may also be given these.
The word "may" matters. It does not tell you that your application will be accepted or that every building gets the same support. The Law also states no amounts; the detailed rules are set by Presidential decision and can change over time.
Sometimes rent comes from the contractor. Article 6, paragraph 14 says that when owners terminate the contract because of contractor delay, rent aid the contractor has paid owners up to that date cannot be reclaimed from them. So rent can also be paid under a private agreement, and in that case its amount and period depend entirely on that contract.
How do you estimate how long you will stay in the temporary home?
The Law sets no construction period for the new building. How long building takes varies with the contract, the permit and the contractor, so do not plan around month counts you have seen online.
A practical approach is to find the delivery date in the owners' contract with the contractor and add a margin of your own. How large it should be is your call; the chance of late delivery and things like your children's school calendar all play a part.
If the contract has no delivery date, or an unclear one, treat that as a warning and ask the contractor for a written date before signing. If you receive rent aid or contractor rent, note in the same place the date on which payment ends.
How does the size of the temporary home decide what goes into storage?
Most households move into a smaller rented flat during renewal. Because not everything will fit, the calculation starts with the floor area: fewer rooms means furniture, seasonal clothes and boxes must wait somewhere else.
Splitting belongings into three lists makes the job easier: what goes to the temporary home, what goes to storage and what leaves the household. Things you will not need soon go to storage; everyday items go to the temporary home.
Knowing roughly how much volume goes to storage also shows which room size you will need. The details are in the chapter on storing belongings during urban renewal; storage costs do not appear in the Law as a reimbursed item, so put them in your budget from the start.
What should you ask the authority and the contractor?
The list below can serve as a worksheet. Get the answers in writing; a verbal reply gives you nothing to rely on if a dispute arises later.
Next to each answer, note who gave it: the Law, the Directorate, the municipality or the contractor. A figure with no known source is the weak point in a plan.
- To the authority: can temporary housing, rent aid or construction aid be offered for our building, and what are the conditions and dates?
- To the authority: who is paid, how often, and when does it end?
- To the contractor: what is the delivery date in the contract, and does rent continue if it is late?
- To the contractor: when does rent payment start and for how long is it paid?
- To the contractor: is there completion insurance or another form of security on the project?
- To yourself: how many people will live there, how many rooms are needed, and how far may it be from work and school?
What should you check in a temporary lease?
These are general practical points, not legal provisions. Showing the lease to a lawyer before signing is worthwhile, especially if you expect a long construction period.
Before you sign, lay the lease term next to the construction schedule. If the term is too short you may need a second move; if it is too long, you may be left carrying the cost when the new flat is ready early.
- Does the lease term, and any extension option, fit the construction schedule?
- What are the notice period and the conditions for leaving early?
- How large is the deposit, and when and on what terms is it returned?
- Who pays building fees, utility bills and maintenance?
- What happens if belongings turn out not to fit, or if you leave earlier than planned?
- Is the handover record, with photos of the flat's condition, attached to the lease?
Where to ask
This chapter is general information and not legal advice. For temporary housing and rent aid, ask your municipality (the İdare) or the Kentsel Dönüşüm Başkanlığı (the Urban Transformation Directorate); for lease and contractor contracts, ask a lawyer.
Atasoy Depo collects and delivers belongings door to door within İstanbul, and a free survey lets us work out the volume together.
A roadmap for your situation
Four questions show which step you are at, what to prepare and your storage plan.
Need somewhere for your belongings?
See the sizes and prices of the locked rooms, or ask for a free survey.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone get temporary housing or rent aid?
No. The Law says these may be given in buildings evacuated by agreement, which does not mean every application is accepted. Ask the authority what is planned for your building.
How is the rent paid by a contractor decided?
The owners' contract with the contractor decides it. The amount, start date and duration are not in the Law, so read the contract and, if needed, show it to a lawyer.
How long should I rent the temporary home for?
You can plan from the delivery date in the contract plus your own safety margin. The Law sets no construction period; the real time depends on the contract and the contractor.
What if the temporary home cannot hold all my belongings?
Sort them into everyday items, items for storage and items to leave behind. Knowing the volume headed for storage makes it easier to pick a suitable room size.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, ask the Urban Transformation Directorate, your municipality or a lawyer.