A landlord complaint hotline, proposed as a solution to rising rents, will be launched in the near future. This hotline aims to protect tenants’ rights and prevent unjustified rent increases. The key goals are:
- Protecting tenants’ rights
- Shielding tenants from sudden and excessive rent hikes
- Preventing landlords from obtaining unfair gains
To rebalance rents that some landlords have raised arbitrarily—sometimes taking advantage of broader economic conditions—ministries have decided to introduce new measures. Through the landlord complaint hotline, tenants will be able to file complaints easily via the e-Government system in cases of excessive rent increases.
Solution to Excessive Rent Increases
Excessive rent levels emerged as a major problem in 2021–2022 when many landlords adjusted prices according to their own criteria. Seen by many as a violation of human rights and of the right to housing, these sharp rent increases must be addressed. For this reason, the Republic of Turkey has developed several measures to curb excessive rent hikes.
- Landlord complaint hotline
- Freezing rent increase rates at 25%
- Prioritizing tenant rights
These are among the new measures being introduced. Although tenant rights are enshrined in the constitution, they are not always effectively enforced. To counter growing problems, steps are now being taken to protect tenant rights, housing rights, and individuals’ financial security from undue economic pressure.
When Will the Landlord Complaint Hotline Be Available on e-Government?
The project and proposals for the landlord complaint hotline have been submitted to the presidency. After review by the presidency, a final decision will be made and the system will be implemented without delay. Work that began on May 26 is still ongoing, and the hotline is not yet active. The plan is to launch the hotline within 2022, ideally by the end of June or the start of July.
How Will the Landlord Complaint Hotline Work?
Specific preparations have been made for operating the landlord complaint hotline. While the system is still in the project phase, each element has been prepared and presented to the presidency. The anticipated steps for monitoring and using the hotline are:
- Log in to the e-Government system
- Open the landlord complaint hotline page
- Enter the required information
- Review and submit the complaint
This is one of the expected procedures. Complaints will be reviewed promptly, and landlords’ actions will be tracked. The hotline aims to reduce and remedy the problems tenants face.
Who Proposed the Complaint Hotline for High Housing Rents?
The landlord complaint hotline proposal was decided in a meeting led by three ministries. The measures developed with the ministries’ representatives were announced to the public after the meeting. The ministries that decided to create the hotline are:
- Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change
- Ministry of Justice
- Ministry of Treasury
Representatives from these ministries developed the final measures during the meeting. The Ministry of Trade’s representatives also participated. Active involvement from officials such as Murat Kurum, Bekir Bozdağ and Yunus Elitaş helped accelerate the draft of the hotline.
What Is the Purpose of the Landlord Complaint Hotline?
The primary purpose of the landlord complaint hotline is to protect tenants’ rights. It was also designed to help enforce the proposed 25% cap on rent increases planned for one year. The hotline’s objectives include:
- Preventing unlawful or arbitrary evictions
- Keeping excessive rent increases to a minimum
- Facilitating tax audits
- Deterring illegal behavior
- Protecting tenants from becoming victims
These aims define the hotline’s role in addressing rent-related issues.
How Will Tenants Benefit from the Hotline?
The measures to prevent excessive rent increases are expected to provide tangible benefits to tenants. With the rent increase cap and the complaint hotline in place, the number and severity of disputes should decline. Given that many tenant grievances and rights violations went unnoticed before, the new hotline is expected to help tenants regain protections.
Expected benefits include:
- Reducing the threat of sudden eviction and protecting the right to housing
- Removing pressure on tenants to accept excessive increases out of fear of homelessness
- Holding landlords accountable under the law and preventing unjust enrichment
- Ensuring properties are rented at fair market rates to protect tenants’ economic rights
- Giving tenants confidence that the law supports them when disputes arise
These are the anticipated advantages for tenants. If the hotline functions as intended and landlords are properly monitored, tenant grievances should be significantly reduced.
Can the Hotline Eliminate Abnormal Rent Hikes?
Whether the hotline will be effective is a key concern for many tenants. It is expected to curb unjust profits, rights violations, and resulting hardships. Growing economic difficulties have made rights violations more visible, which in turn has created an opportunity to introduce new measures and state support.
In a social-state system like Turkey’s, decisions should prioritize protecting victims and eliminating rights violations. The landlord complaint hotline was developed for these reasons, aiming to make violations more visible and actionable.
Why Have Rents Increased?
Many factors have contributed to excessive rent increases. Some landlords bypassing intermediaries such as real estate agents and consultants is only one of the issues that worsen the problem.
Some reasons for rising rents include:
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- Wider economic problems
- Rising foreign exchange rates
- Depreciation of the Turkish lira
- An increase in unjust enrichment
- Uneven and nontransparent tax enforcement
- Widening gaps between economic classes
- Rising tax burdens
- Price hikes across sectors—from food and fuel to clothing
- Declining purchasing power of consumers
These factors have contributed to the rent increases observed over the past two years.
What Will Happen to Landlords Who Raise Rents Excessively?
Punitive measures for landlords who raise rents excessively are being developed. For example, if a landlord is reported via the complaint hotline, their decisions, assets, contracts and agreements may be reviewed. Authorities could require full and transparent disclosure of income and expenses, including rental income reported for tax purposes.
Landlords’ actions against tenants will be closely monitored to prevent rights violations. The landlord complaint hotline aims to create an environment where tenants can exercise their rights without fear. As a result, landlords will no longer be able to raise rents arbitrarily without oversight.