Housing Policies in Turkey

Abstract

Housing policies in Turkey have been changing in parallel with urbanization and economic policies. In this chapter, the evolution of housing policies in Turkey is presented. Starting with 1923, four basic periods can be determined by taking several milestones regarding housing policies into consideration. In the first period, following the recovery from the two world wars, housing provision for government officials was one of the main concerns. In addition, the inadequate housing supply resulting from rapid urbanization necessitated new policies to cope with this housing crisis. The 1961 Constitution and the First Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP) announced in 1962 mark the beginning of the second period. During this period, which lasted until the 1980s, “providing housing for all” was the main discourse in housing policies. Economic policies aiming to achieve stability marked the beginning of the third period. A milestone during this period was the Mass Housing Law enacted in 1981, which aimed to solve the problems in the housing market resulting from the impact of economic policies. At the same time, the effects of the law and mass housing production were widely observed. During the fourth period, starting in 2002, political changes had substantial implications for housing policies, and regulations regarding urban transformation became prevalent. From past to present, housing policies in Turkey have supported home ownership with no effective policy for rental housing. The tenancy has generally developed in Turkey as a result of the free market economy. On the other hand, policies towards owner-occupied housing have not been effective in meeting the housing needs of low-income households in particular.