In Türkiye, the Court Has Recognized Short-Term Rental of Housing as a Non-Commercial Activity

An important court ruling has been issued in Türkiye, significantly simplifying the process of short-term property rental for private owners.

In December 2025, the Council of State of Türkiye (Danıştay) ruled that renting out an apartment on a short-term basis does not constitute a commercial activity, provided that the owner does not offer hotel-type services. Income from short-term rentals (including daily or weekly rentals) remains rental income, not commercial profit, as long as the owner:

• does not provide breakfast or meals
  
  

• does not offer regular cleaning and hotel-style services
  
  

• does not provide additional hospitality services
  
  

Thus, simply renting out an apartment does not turn the owner into an entrepreneur.

What This Means for Property Owners

The court ruling significantly eases the situation for property owners in Türkiye:

• No accountant required and no need for full commercial bookkeeping
  
  

• No obligation to register as a business or sole trader solely due to short-term rental
  
  

• Reduced risk of VAT and commercial tax reassessments
  
  

• Easier property management independently or via a management company
  
  

Previously, tax authorities often automatically classified short-term rentals as commercial activity, leading to fines and complex reporting requirements. This ruling has eliminated that legal uncertainty.

Important: Conditions That Still Apply

Despite the court decision, existing short-term rental regulations in Türkiye remain in force:

• The property must be residential, not industrial or office-use
  
  

• A permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye is required, including:
  
  

• registration of the property for short-term rental
  
  

• obtaining an official permit (izin belgesi)
  
  

• displaying an official registration plaque/number
  
  

• In apartment buildings, consent from the majority of property owners may be required
  
  

The court ruling does not отменяет the short-term rental law, but clarifies the tax and legal status of rental income, confirming that it is non-commercial when no hotel services are provided.

Resort Property Investments

Stay Property residences in popular areas are suitable for rental. We offer turnkey rental management for your convenience. Installment plans are also available for apartments that can be rented out.

Take advantage of the opportunity to invest in real estate at old prices and with significant discounts, as due to inflation such prices will no longer be available in new developments. Moreover, the current lack of new construction across Alanya will lead to a supply shortage in the future—especially with potential changes in migration policy and the reopening of districts for residence permits (İkamet).

Contact our online consultant on the website for more details.