Shop lease agreement
A shop lease agreement is the written document governing the rental of a shop, store, or retail unit for a set price and term, subject to the Turkish Code of Obligations' roofed-commercial-lease provisions (TBK arts. 339-356). You can report a residential lease via Turkey's e-Devlet portal, but shop and retail leasing is outside its scope — commercial clauses such as the permitted-use restriction, common-charge allocation, and assignment of lease are not covered there. Akitle turns the shop-lease template into a fillable web document: the renter opens the link, fills in their part, and signs on-screen.
By: Akitle Legal Team · Last updated: August 1, 2026
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FreeNo sign-up required. The example covers parties, rental terms and signature blocks in line with the Turkish Code of Obligations.
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What this contract covers
- Premises details: full address, title deed (block / parcel), gross / net m²
- Permitted use / line of business (e.g. clothing store, grocery, salon)
- Rent amount, payment day, and payment method (bank transfer / EFT)
- Deposit amount (TBK art. 342 cap) and return conditions
- Common-charge / dues allocation
- Assignment-of-lease terms (landlord's written consent — TBK art. 322)
- Renovation and decoration responsibility
- Rent-increase formula (CPI cap, TBK art. 344) and termination/eviction terms
Mandatory fields in a shop lease
The following fields are indispensable in a shop or retail lease: the parties' identification and trade-name details, the full address and title-deed information (block / parcel) of the leased premises, lease start date and duration, monthly rent amount and payment terms, deposit amount, permitted use and line of business, and the common-charge allocation. The Akitle template includes these core fields by default; you only fill in what's specific to your shop.
- Premises: full address, title deed (block / parcel), gross / net m²
- Permitted use and line of business (e.g. clothing store, grocery, salon — use outside the stated purpose is grounds for termination)
- Rent: monthly amount, payment day, payment method (bank transfer / EFT)
- Deposit: amount (capped under TBK art. 342 — at most 3 months' rent) and return conditions
- Common charges / dues: management-fee allocation if inside a mall or business complex
- Fixtures and installations list (with photos if available)
- Term: start date and duration (auto-extends annually)
What legal regime governs a shop lease?
Shop and retail leases fall under the Turkish Code of Obligations' 'residential and roofed commercial leases' chapter, TBK arts. 339-356. This regime is stricter and more tenant-protective than the general lease provisions (arts. 299 et seq.) on permitted-use restrictions, the rent-increase cap, the deposit ceiling, and eviction grounds.
You can report a residential lease via e-Devlet, but shop, retail, and other commercial leases are outside its scope — Akitle fills exactly that gap. The standard e-Devlet form omits commercial clauses such as the permitted-use restriction, common-charge allocation, assignment of lease, and penalty clause; the Akitle template includes them by default, sends them to the renter via link, and produces an audit-trailed signature.
Assignment of lease: assignment or sublease?
'Devren kiralama' — colloquially 'taking over a shop' — is everyday Turkish for an existing tenant handing off their lease (sometimes together with fixtures and an established customer base) to a new tenant. Legally this is one of two distinct arrangements: the tenant fully assigning their right of use (assignment) or leasing part or all of the premises to someone else (sublease). Under TBK art. 322, a tenant may not assign or sublease the leased premises without the landlord's written consent — an assignment made without consent gives the landlord grounds for termination.
In practice, the outgoing tenant may ask the incoming tenant for a 'devir bedeli' (colloquially 'peştemallik', a goodwill/key-money payment) covering fixtures, improvements, and the established customer base; this payment is a separate commercial matter the parties negotiate freely, independent of the lease contract — neither the landlord's consent nor the lease agreement guarantees it. The Akitle template includes a field for the landlord's written consent in an assignment/sublease scenario, plus an optional note field for the devir bedeli if one applies.
Rent increase and eviction
For roofed commercial leases — shops and retail units included — the annual rent-increase rate cannot exceed the previous year's consumer-price-index (CPI) change (TBK art. 344). The Akitle template structures the increase clause around this ceiling; wording such as 'increase not exceeding CPI' is recommended over a fixed percentage.
An eviction undertaking ('tahliye taahhüdü', TBK art. 352) is a separate document the tenant gives independently of the lease, drawn up on a date after the lease and in written form; it requires notarization to be effective in an eviction lawsuit. An Akitle signature creates a binding contract between the parties and carries evidentiary value under HMK arts. 199/202, but it does not substitute for an eviction undertaking — we recommend consulting a lawyer for high-value shop leases.
Your static example vs. signing with Akitle
Download a static example
- You download a blank Word/PDF file and fill it in by hand
- You must print it and gather the parties for wet-ink signing
- No record of who signed, or when
Sign via link with Akitle
- You fill in a ready template online
- You send a link; the renter approves from their own phone
- Both parties download a PDF with an audit trail
Akitle produces a binding document with an audit trail; it is not a qualified electronic signature under Law No. 5070.
Frequently asked questions
How does assignment of a shop lease (devren kiralama) work?
In an assignment, the existing tenant hands off the lease relationship — sometimes together with fixtures and an established customer base — to a new tenant. Under TBK art. 322, this assignment cannot be made without the landlord's written consent; an assignment without consent gives the landlord grounds for termination. The devir bedeli (goodwill payment) is a separate matter the parties negotiate freely, independent of the lease contract.
Is there a cap on the deposit amount in a shop lease?
Yes. In residential and roofed commercial leases — shops included — the deposit cannot exceed 3 months' rent (TBK art. 342), and a cash deposit should be held in a bank account. The Akitle template displays a warning for amounts that violate this cap.
Who withholds tax on a shop lease?
Unlike residential leases, in a commercial lease the tenant must withhold income tax on the rent — currently at 20% — and remit it to the tax office when the tenant is a registered taxpayer under standard assessment or a corporate taxpayer (Income Tax Law art. 94); the landlord receives the net amount. Because the exact application depends on your business's status, we recommend confirming with your accountant.
Who pays for renovation and decoration in a shop?
It should be set out explicitly in the contract. Common practice is that renovation and decoration costs fall on the tenant, with the landlord's written approval required for structural changes; whether the tenant restores the space to its original condition at the end of the term (or leaves the improvements) is agreed separately. The Akitle template has a dedicated clause for this responsibility.
How is the annual rent increase calculated?
It cannot exceed the previous year's consumer-price-index (CPI) change (TBK art. 344). The Akitle template structures the increase clause around this ceiling; wording such as 'increase not exceeding CPI' is recommended over a fixed percentage.
Is the Akitle signature a qualified e-signature (Law 5070)?
No. Akitle produces a binding document and an audit trail between the parties; the document constitutes evidence under HMK art. 199. It is not, however, a qualified electronic signature under Law No. 5070. Where wet-ink equivalence is required, a notary or qualified e-signature is recommended.
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The information and examples on this page are for general guidance only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a lawyer for your specific situation.