Airbnb Law enacted

Under the Law published in the Official Gazette, residential rentals for periods of less than 100 days have been brought under the scope of 'Tourism-Purpose Residential Rental.' For such rentals, it has become mandatory to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism before entering into a rental agreement.

According to the Law, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism may also carry out the permit issuance process through governorates. Plaques with qualifications determined by the Ministry will be hung at the entrances of residences rented under this scope. Permit and plaque fees will be determined by the Ministry. If the residence to be rented for tourism purposes is an apartment within a building, it will be mandatory to submit to the Ministry the unanimous approval of all flat owners in the same building in order to obtain the permit.

SUBLETTING TO THIRD PARTIES PROHIBITED

According to the Law in question, it is prohibited for users to sublet a residence rented from a permit holder to third parties on their own behalf and account, or for a tenant who has rented a residence for residential purposes to sublet it to third parties for tourism purposes on their own behalf and account. However, legal entities that are users may allow their own personnel to use the residence they have rented for tourism purposes.

100,000 LIRA FINE

Those who rent out residences for tourism purposes without a permit will be subject to an administrative fine of 100,000 Turkish Liras for each residence rented, and will be given a 15-day period to obtain a permit and continue operations. Those who continue tourism-purpose rental activities without obtaining a permit at the end of the 15-day period will be subject to an administrative fine of 500,000 Turkish Liras and will be given another 15-day period to obtain a permit and continue operations. Those who continue tourism-purpose rental activities without a permit even after the second 15-day period expires will be subject to an administrative fine of 1 million Turkish Liras.

An administrative fine of 100,000 Turkish Liras will be imposed for each contract on those who sublet a tourism-purpose residence rented from a permit holder to third parties on their own behalf and account, those who sublet a residence they rented for residential purposes for tourism purposes on their own behalf and account, and those who mediate the rental of residences without a permit for tourism purposes.

Platforms that facilitate the electronic commerce and promotion of residences rented without a permit will be obliged to remove the relevant listings within 24 hours if warned by the Ministry. Otherwise, an administrative fine of 100,000 Turkish Liras will be imposed for each residence on intermediary service providers as defined in the Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce No. 6563 dated 23/10/2014.

News Source: 12punto