Before you sign, three limits work in your favour: the deposit cap, the agency fee limit, and no charge for the viewing itself.
At a viewing you can still pin down two things the rules already set: a residential deposit may not exceed three months' rent, and an agency may not charge for showing the flat. Both limits appear on the official Turkish legislation portal, checked on 5 November 2026: the deposit cap in the Turkish Code of Obligations and the viewing-fee ban in the Regulation on Real Estate Trade. A law firm's guidance from October 2026 recommends recording paintwork, fixtures, meter readings and keys in writing, and noting existing damage with both parties' knowledge, which reduces later uncertainty about when damage arose.
Is the asking rent near the city's 1+1 average?
As of 9 September 2026, one news outlet reported average monthly rents for 1+1 flats in major cities from about 15,276 lira in Eskişehir to 35,912 lira in Istanbul, with the level depending on the city and district. Use that spread only as a check for a 1+1 flat; it says nothing about other sizes.
Will the flat be fit for the use stated in the lease?
Under Article 301 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, the landlord must deliver the flat on the agreed date in a condition suitable for the use set out in the contract and keep it that way for the whole term. For residential leases this duty cannot be changed to the tenant's disadvantage. The viewing is where you check that condition against the use the lease will describe.
Record the condition now, with both parties' knowledge
A law firm's commentary of 16 October 2026 advises writing down paintwork, fixtures, meter readings and keys, and marking existing damage with both parties' knowledge, with photographs whose date and place are clear. A separate relocation guide of 13 October 2026 suggests taking 30 to 50 photos during the viewing.
Get the agency's terms in writing before you commit
Under the regulation on real estate trade, an agency may not charge for showing the flat, and its mediation fee for a rental may not exceed one month's rent excluding VAT. Unless the contract says otherwise, that fee is split equally between tenant and landlord.
The mediation contract must state the tapu (title deed) details, the property's type, address and features, the energy certificate if there is one, the rent, the annual increase rate and the payment method. Ask to see that written contract before you commit.
Ask where the deposit will sit before you pay it
Under Article 342 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, a residential deposit may not exceed three months' rent. In practice the amount is usually lower: a law firm's commentary, undated, describes one to two months' rent as typical, and a bank's page dated 6 May 2025 says one month is most commonly requested.
The more important question at the viewing is how the money will be held. Article 342 requires a money deposit to be placed in a term savings account at a bank, from which it cannot be withdrawn without the landlord's consent, and the bank returns it only with both parties' consent or a finalised decision. So agree with the landlord, in writing and before paying, that the deposit will go into a term savings account at a bank under this rule, rather than being handed over directly.
Agree how rent will be documented
Under the Ministry of Finance's communiqué, residential rent receipts and payments must be confirmed by documents issued by a bank or PTT. Cash payment attracts a special irregularity penalty for both the landlord and the tenant.
At the viewing, agree that rent will be paid through a bank or PTT and record that in writing, so every payment can later be matched to the required document.