Erdoğan had asked a landlord, 'Do you have any conscience?': The General Directorate of Foundations hiked rents by 800 percent!

The poor course of the economy has brought with it a housing and shelter crisis. Although the government has imposed a 25 percent limit on rent increases, landlords and tenants are facing off in courtrooms.

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recounted a dialogue he had with a citizen in a speech he gave recently, saying: "He said, 'I am a tenant.' I asked, 'What are you paying?' He said, 'Mr. President, the landlord is putting serious pressure on me right now. I was paying 2,500 liras. Now he has raised my rent to 7,500 liras. He says, either you pay it or you move out.'"

Erdoğan had reacted to the landlord who made the exorbitant hike with the words, "Do you have any conscience at all?"

However, the ineffectiveness of the government's "25 percent ceiling on rent increases" policy was once again revealed by the rent increase decision for the General Directorate of Foundations (VGM)-owned residences in Hatay. CHP Hatay Deputy Nermin Yıldırım Kara brought the rent crisis occurring at the VGM-owned Kuğupark Residences in Hatay's Arsuz district to the agenda.

NOTICE TO TENANT

According to a report by Mustafa Bildircin from Birgün, rent contracts were made with citizens residing in the VGM Kuğupark Residences in the Arsuz Karaağaç region for between 1,800 TL and 2,400 TL on average. A notice was sent to the tenants on November 19. The notice sent to a citizen residing in the residences, signed by the General Directorate of Foundations Hatay Regional Directorate, included the following statements: "The term of the lease agreement expires on December 31, 2023. Your new monthly rent for the period between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, has been determined by taking into account the market value of 18,000 TL per month. I kindly request that the necessary actions be taken for the continuation of the aforementioned lease agreement at a rate of 18,000 TL per month until December 31, 2024."

EXORBITANT RENT HIKE

According to the notice, the General Directorate of Foundations increased the rent of the properties it owns by between 800 percent and 1,000 percent. Reacting to the decision, Kara said, "In Hatay, where there is a great need for shelter and housing after the earthquake, this exorbitant hike made by the state's own institutions will bring even more painful burdens to our citizens who have already experienced a very devastating earthquake and lost their loved ones, their homes, and their jobs." Emphasizing that the VGM's hike decision would also encourage other real estate owners, Kara added, "This will cause an even deeper housing crisis in Hatay."

CHP'S KARA BROUGHT IT TO PARLIAMENT

CHP's Kara, who also brought the problems of the citizens in Hatay to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) agenda, asked the following questions for Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, to whom the VGM is affiliated, to answer:

• Despite the legal 25 percent limit imposed on landlords, for what reasons did the General Directorate of Foundations go for such a hike rate for the properties within its own structure?
• Is it applying the same hike rates for its properties in all provinces? Or is this a special practice for the Hatay region?
• Was information obtained from other relevant institutions, organizations, and Ministries while deciding on these hike rates?
• Is the rent increase made in accordance with market standards?
• Has a mechanism been established where tenants can object and defend their rights against this increase?

WHAT DID ERDOĞAN SAY?

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had touched upon the high increase in housing rents in a speech he gave at an event held for the November 24 Teachers' Day. Recounting the dialogue he had with a tenant citizen, Erdoğan said, "He said I am a tenant. I am paying 2,500 liras, now he has raised my rent to 7,500 liras. He says either you pay or you move out. Now, have some mercy!" Addressing the landlord in question, Erdoğan had said, "I suppose he is listening to me now, I have to ask, do you have any conscience?"

News Source: 12punto