In Turkey, there is no general receipt for paying for housing and communal services: electricity costs, water costs (hot and cold), heating costs, costs for building renovation work, etc. You will need to pay each of these costs separately.
What is Aidat?
Aidat, these are the monthly expenses of the building divided by the number of apartments and commercial premises.
For example, if a building spends an average of 150 turkish lira for water (for watering the garden), 150 lira for electricity (lighting in the building, elevator operation), 150 lira for maintenance of the elevator, and 150 lira for cleaning the entrance and the common area of the building, then the total costs will amount to 600 lira.
Aidat’s cost for each apartment: 600/10 apartments = 60 lira (if there is no commercial property in the building).
The cost of Aidat for each owner of real estate, if for example building has 8 apartments and 2 commercial real estate: 67.5 lira for each apartment (8), and 30 lira for each commercial property (2). Commercial property owners usually pay half the cost of Aidat.
If the cost of Aidat is 60 lira and 70 is paid, then an additional 10 lira are accumulated at the cash desk of the building for next works.
If a building has security, a swimming pool, a hammam, and the building is managed by an External Management Company, then this increases the cost of maintaining the building, and accordingly increases the size of Aidat.
Who pay “Aidat”?
Aidat is paid by the Property Owner or Tenant. If the Tenant has not paid for Aidat and moved out from the property, the Owner pays for the unpaid months of Aidat.
Who manage a building?
The building can be managed by one of the owners at will – the Building Manager, chosen by other owners of real estate in the building (51%). The tenant cannot be the Building Manager. TAPU is required (title deed). When one of the owners manages the building, the only advantage for him is that he doesn’t pay the monthly amount of Aidat like everyone else.
The buildıng can be managed by an External Management Company. In this case, the costs for the services of the External Company are added to the amount of Aidat divided by the number of real estate. The decision to transfer management rights to an External Management Company is also carried out by the owners of real estate (51%). This management option is preferable if the building doesn’t have a owner who wants to be a Building Manager, or if there is a Building Manager but doesn’t fulfill his obligations.
The building manager is obliged to provide information on expenses and incomes, work performed and costs, issue a receipt for payment of Aidat to each owner.
Who is the Auditor?
A Auditor need be chosen in every building. He must to control the activities of the Building Manager. The Auditor can be chosen from among the property owners, or you can use the services of an External Independent Controller.
Why does the Building Manager sometimes requires extra payment additionally the amount of Aidat?
The monthly Aidat doesn’t include the cost of major renovations to the building. If works is carried out in the building on the repair of the facade of the building, repair of the entrance, pruning of trees, etc. to carry out these works, an additional fee is collected from owners. The Building Manager does the relevanted works with the consent of 51% and sometimes up to 80% of the property owners.
What will happen if you don’t pay Aidat and extra expenses for improving the living conditions of the building?
How many months you live in the house doesn’t matter. You are obliged to pay every month Aidat and additional costs (approved in the “decision book” 51-80% consent of the owners). In case of non-payment, each next month accumulates 5% for non-payment. After 3 months, the Building Manager can sue you. These legal proceedings are resolved fairly quickly. If you refuse to pay for Aidat, an encumbrance is imposed on your property.
Who and when pays for water, electricity, gas (heating)?
Once a month, responsible organizations come to the building to read the indicators of meters for water, electricity, gas (for heating). Based on the meter readings from each property, a receipt is printed out and left at the entrance of the building. Property owners pay receipts to the relevant organizations – water (ASAT), electricity (Tedaş), gas (depending on the company of the gas supplier specified in the receipt).
Turkey has no hot water. Cold water is heated by a solar battery, an electric water heater or a storage water heater, installed separately in each property.
What is a «decision book»?
This is a special notebook, notarized and legally binding, in which the Building Manager writes the decisions made by the property owners at the meeting of the house. Without an appropriate decision requiring 51% and sometimes up to 80% consent of the owners, expensive works to improve living conditions cannot be carried out in the building.
Commercial real estate
The state has separate legislation on commercial real estate. This type of property has a number of advantages and some restrictions provided by law. Owners of commercial real estate pay half the amount of Aidat (because they doesn’t use the elevator, doesn’t use electricity at the entrance, etc.), if otherwise doesn’t provided in the “decision book”.
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