When comparing homes in Türkiye, look beyond price, location and layout. If you spend most of your time in China, who will look after the property after handover?
Whether you plan to use the home yourself, leave it vacant or rent it out, discuss these arrangements before buying.
1. Define the management service
An offer to keep an eye on the property is only a starting point. List the services you need: inspections, repairs, bill checks, tenant communication and emergency response. Agree who handles each task, what it costs and how often you receive updates.
2. Agree how money will be received and spent
If you plan to rent out the home, agree the rent collection account, management fee and repair approval limit in advance. Reconcile money received with expense receipts each month, so that any reported net income can be checked.
3. Create a handover record
Keep handover photographs, a furniture and appliance inventory, meter readings, a key register and warranty details. Organise records by date and keep a copy you can access yourself.
These records help you follow the condition of the home remotely and check later repairs or changes of occupant.
4. Schedule tax and insurance reviews
Living in China does not remove the need to assess the Turkish tax treatment of rental income. Ask a qualified tax professional to confirm filing requirements for the income year and your circumstances.
Review what each insurance policy covers, its limits and its renewal date. Earthquake insurance should not be treated as comprehensive protection for every building, contents or rental risk.
5. Define authority before appointing a representative
If someone will act on your behalf, ask a local lawyer to check the wording and formal requirements of the authorisation. Consider routine management separately from major acts such as selling or mortgaging the property.
Agree how keys, documents, account records and unspent funds will be returned when the service ends.
Plan for the years after handover
Include management fees, vacancy, a repair reserve and professional fees in your comparisons. A suitable property also needs an ownership plan that you can sustain.
Contact ELH on WeChat at eli201414 to discuss your property needs in Türkiye. Confirm specific legal, tax and insurance questions with the appropriate professionals.
Official sources and further reading
Match tax guidance to the income year: a guide’s publication year is not necessarily the year the income was earned. The sources below support the general tax and insurance information.
- Revenue Administration: rental income guide for non-residents (published 2026)
- DASK: earthquake insurance coverage
- Read next: planning your property budget
- Read next: your remote viewing checklist
This article provides general preparation information. It is not individual legal, tax or investment advice. Matters involving a specific transaction should be checked by appropriate professionals.