Guide › Moving in Türkiye: the checklist

Moving in Türkiye: the checklist

The general list plus what comes on top in this country: deadlines, offices and customs.

56 tasks · General checklist

Contracts and authorities

17 weeks before
Check the notice period: 15 days before the end of the lease year
Turkish Code of Obligations, art. 347: the tenant gives notice at least 15 days before the end of the term, otherwise the lease renews for a year.
14 weeks before
Give written notice, by notary or with a signed receipt
Notice must be in writing (art. 348); a notary notice is the safest proof.
13 weeks before
Arrange viewings for the next tenant
11 weeks before
Sign the new lease
10 weeks before
Pay the deposit: at most three months' rent, into a blocked account
Art. 342: at most three months' rent; money goes into a bank account that neither side can touch alone.
9 weeks before
Arrange the handover date for the old flat
6 weeks before
Cancel internet and TV contracts
6 weeks before
Book a van for the cellar and small items
4 weeks before
Book time off for moving day
3 weeks before
Draw up the list of address changes
2 weeks before
DASK earthquake insurance for the new address, plus contents cover
DASK (compulsory earthquake insurance) is required for the electricity and water subscription; contents insurance is voluntary.
7 days before
Cancel the standing order for the old rent

Packing and decluttering

5 weeks before
Get moving boxes
5 weeks before
Get packing material
4 weeks before
Set a decluttering day per room
3 weeks before
Move the cellar and attic ahead of time
2 weeks before
Pack seasonal and rarely used things
10 days before
Pack the workspace
5 days before
Pack the kitchen, defrost the fridge
2 days before
Pack the first-night box
2 days before
Keep the toolbox separate

Old home

9 weeks before
Declutter: sell, give away, dispose
6 weeks before
Clear out the cellar and attic
4 weeks before
Book a bulky waste collection
7 days before
Factory-reset the smart home devices
1 day before
Read and photograph the meters
7 days after
Clean the old place for the handover
10 days after
Sign the handover protocol, count the keys
4 weeks after
Claim the deposit back from the blocked account
The bank pays out with both signatures or a court decision; the landlord must claim within a month of the end of the lease.

New home

9 weeks before
Handover report with photos and meter readings, signed by both sides
An annex to the lease; without it the deposit is hard to get back.
6 weeks before
Book the electrician and tradespeople
6 weeks before
Check mounting points: shower rail, lamps, curtains
4 weeks before
Order the internet connection
4 weeks before
Decide what to buy new
2 weeks before
Draw a furniture plan per room, take measurements
7 days before
Test the internet connection
7 days before
Electricity, water and gas: new subscription with DASK and the lease
The supplier asks for the DASK policy number, the lease and your ID; close the old subscription or the bills keep coming.
1 day after
Record and report defects on moving in
3 days after
Label the doorbell and letterbox
7 days after
Set the smart home up again

Moving day

13 weeks before
Fix the moving date
9 weeks before
Book the moving company
2 weeks before
Ask the district municipality about the moving lift and the road closure
Many districts require permission for a furniture lift on the pavement; apply one to two weeks ahead.
2 weeks before
Reserve the lift at both addresses
10 days before
Arrange care for children and pets
3 days before
Move the plants separately
3 days before
Plan bikes and bulky items separately
On moving day
Food and drink for the helpers
On moving day
Final walk-through of the old flat

After the move

3 days after
Site management: report the move, aidat and the building rules
Aidat (service charge) is due monthly from the day you move in; many sites set times for using the lift.
7 days after
Report the address change to the population registry (MERNİS)
Within 20 working days of moving in (Population Services Act, art. 50); online with e-Devlet or at the Nüfus Müdürlüğü.
7 days after
PTT: apply for mail redirection
At the counter or online; chargeable, for a set period.
10 days after
School: enrolment follows the address (e-Okul)
State schools are assigned by address; the transfer runs through e-Okul.
2 weeks after
Tell the bank, the employer and SGK
Banks ask for proof of address (a bill in your name); SGK and the tax office follow the registry.
2 weeks after
Update subscriptions and delivery services
2 weeks after
Driving licence and vehicle: the address follows the registry
Since MERNİS the address is taken from the registry; check the vehicle registration and the traffic insurance yourself.

In the app: when setting up the move or under Tasks → Template. Everything can be deselected; a template is a suggestion.

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The checklists in this guide are compiled with care, but without guarantee of completeness or currency. Deadlines and responsibilities change. The information of the respective authority or contracting party is authoritative.