What Is Iskan (Building Occupancy Permit) and Why Should You Ask About It Before Buying?

The document most often skipped before buying a home in Türkiye is the iskan, officially the building occupancy permit (yapı kullanma izin belgesi). The name looks ordinary, but this document shows that the building was built in line with its permit and can be used.

What is iskan?

A building is constructed after obtaining a building permit (yapı ruhsatı) from the municipality. When construction finishes, the municipality checks that the building was built in line with the permit and the project, and issues the building occupancy permit. Without this document the building is not legally considered "ready for use".

Why does it matter?

• Subscriptions. In a building without iskan, permanent electricity, water and natural gas subscriptions can be problematic. Practice may vary by region and period.
• Sale and loans. Banks generally require a building with iskan for a mortgage.
• Legal risk. If a building without iskan contains parts that violate the permit, consequences such as fines or a demolition order can follow.
• Valuation. The iskan status affects the valuation report and the sale value.

How do you check the iskan?

1. Ask the seller for the document. The date and number of the iskan must be written.
2. Have the municipality verify it. The document can be confirmed with the relevant municipality's zoning department.
3. Look at the title deed record. Check whether there is an iskan annotation or a condominium ownership record in the title deed.
4. Tour the building on site. An additional floor against the project, an enclosed terrace or a changed façade can make the iskan problematic.

Iskan in a new project

In off-plan projects there is no iskan yet; there is the construction permit and the building inspection process. Obtaining the iskan at delivery should be the seller's obligation and written in the contract. For examples of projects tied to a delivery date, see the pages of Los Tigres and Meridien Nova. Ask whether the contract has a clause that the balance is not payable "until the iskan is obtained". For a wider framework, see our off-plan article.

Iskan in an older building

In older buildings, the existence of an iskan does not show that the building complies with current regulations, because the rules in force in the year of construction apply. So in addition to the iskan:

• Ask about the year of construction and the project information.
• Check whether there is an urban transformation decision or a risky-structure finding.
• Read our DASK and building safety article.
• Learn about service charges and common expenses from the management.

Checklist

• Date and number of the iskan.
• Verification with the municipality.
• Type of title deed and annotations.
• Is there any addition or change that violates the permit?
• Information on the building inspection and construction firm.

For detailed title deed steps, see our foreign buyer guide.

Sources: csb.gov.tr · tkgm.gov.tr · antalya.bel.tr