You have found an apartment in Türkiye. The agency or developer offers a lawyer to handle the transaction. Before you pay or sign anything, ask: whom does this lawyer represent, and what exactly does the work include?
Where the recommendation came from does not by itself decide who the client is. What matters is the agreed scope of legal work, the party being represented and the lawyer's relationship with the other people in the deal. You can approach a lawyer directly, instruct them to review the purchase on your behalf and get explanations straight from them.
LP Legal takes instructions directly from property buyers throughout Türkiye. Within an agreed engagement, we review the documents and tell the client about the legal risks we find and the information that is still missing.
What to ask before work starts
- Will the lawyer represent you, and how will the engagement be documented?
- Does the work include a review before payment, or only assistance with registration?
- Are there relationships with the seller, developer or agent that must be taken into account in representing you?
- Which documents will be checked, and which information is not yet available?
- How will you be told about problems found, and how will they affect the order of the transaction?
These are questions about who is responsible for what. They are not accusations against any particular agency or professional.
If you have not yet paid
Plan the review before you pay a holding deposit or sign anything. If the purchase is linked to citizenship, say so in your first enquiry.
The property and the seller
Compare the property on offer with the land register: the plot, cadastral references, the independent unit number and the registered use. Check whether you are buying a separate unit or a share. An online parcel search helps identify the property but does not replace checking the owner and any encumbrances. Investment Office of Türkiye guide
Establish separately who will sign and who will receive the money. If a representative is acting, their authority must be checked. If an intermediary accepts the payment, ask on what basis they are receiving it and on what terms it will be returned.
Encumbrances and building documents
A mortgage, an attachment and other register entries need to be assessed separately. A promise to remove a restriction later should be read together with the documents and the agreed payment arrangements. Investment Office of Türkiye
Depending on the property, decide whether the building permit, approved project, occupancy certificate and handover and use conditions need to be checked. A legal document review and a technical survey of the building cover different ground; agree the scope of each separately.
A payment called "kapora"
The name of the payment does not settle whether it will be refunded. The Turkish Code of Obligations distinguishes between a payment confirming that a contract has been made and a payment for the right to withdraw. What counts is the content and validity of the agreement and the circumstances of the payment. Code of Obligations, Articles 177 and 178
Before transferring money, find out what happens if the review reveals an unacceptable problem, the seller does not provide documents or the handover does not take place. The refund terms, deadlines, currency and deductions should be clear in advance. A preliminary agreement does not by itself transfer ownership. Investment Office of Türkiye
Foreign buyers and citizenship plans
When foreign individuals buy property, a foreign currency purchase certificate issued by the bank, the Döviz Alım Belgesi, is required. How the money is transferred and how the registration documents are prepared should be agreed before payment. TKGM announcement
A line in an advertisement saying "suitable for citizenship" is not a substitute for checking. Acquiring the property and the review of a citizenship application are separate processes. The applicable conditions and supporting documents must be assessed before the purchase. Investment Office of Türkiye
If you have already paid and have doubts
The fact of payment neither guarantees a right to a refund nor rules one out. Keep the contracts, payment records, correspondence, the listing and any written promises. Note the dates of upcoming payments or notices.
If you are offered a supplementary agreement, a new payment or a waiver of claims, tell your lawyer before deciding. Documents that do not match your expectations do not automatically mean fraud. Possible claims and remedies are identified after the facts have been reviewed. A refund or any particular outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Contacting LP Legal directly
We handle the legal side of property purchases and citizenship by investment throughout Türkiye. Our work draws on more than eight years of experience in immigration law and on work with more than 2,500 clients of different nationalities. This describes our experience; it is not a count of approved citizenship applications.
The process starts with a short information note, followed by an introductory meeting. We then agree the scope of work, the documents needed, language support and the fee for legal services.
In your first enquiry it is enough to give the city, the stage of the purchase, any payments made and the purpose of the purchase. You do not need to upload a passport or bank documents through the form.
Contact us about a property purchase.
Checking a property in Türkiye before you pay a deposit.
Turkish citizenship through property: what to check before buying.
Prepared for LP Legal by Selahattin Hakan Yıldırım. Contact us to discuss a specific situation.
This article provides general information as at 5 November 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship.