Rental contract

A rental contract is a bilateral agreement governed by the Turkish Code of Obligations (TBK) arts. 299 et seq., in which one party (the lessor) undertakes to transfer the use of a thing — or the use along with the right to enjoy its fruits — to the other party (the renter) for a specified fee. Under Turkish law, written form is not a validity requirement for rental contracts; the parties' mutual consent forms the contract (TBK arts. 1 and 12).

There are three main types by subject matter: (1) residential and roofed workplace leases (TBK arts. 339–356), (2) product leases (TBK arts. 357 et seq., usually agricultural use), (3) movable-property rentals (TBK art. 299 general provisions — e.g., heavy equipment, vehicle, event equipment rental).

Mandatory core fields: the parties' identification, the rented item's description, the rental fee, the rental period (definite or indefinite), delivery and return dates. These are valid between parties even if not written, when mutually accepted. A written document constitutes a 'document' under Turkish Code of Civil Procedure (HMK) art. 199 and 'beginning of written evidence' under art. 202.

For residential and roofed workplace leases, annual rent escalation is capped at the CPI rate under TBK art. 344; the deposit cannot exceed three months' rent under TBK art. 342.