Parliament on Thursday passed a bill concerning the sale of land to foreigners by eliminating the reciprocity requirement and increased the limit on foreign buyers to 30 hectares.
The new law, which was discussed and approved in the Parliament, amends title deed laws and changes the current reciprocity requirement, which dictates that the citizens of 89 countries currently do not have the right to own property in Turkey because Turkish nationals are not entitled to own property in their home countries. Among these countries are Russia, the Gulf States and the Turkic republics of Central Asia. The law also increases the limit on the size of land foreign buyers can purchase from two-and-a-half hectares of vacant land to 30 hectares, and buyers will have to comply with a condition to provide plans for the construction of a house on the land before they make the purchase.
Foreign individuals and businesses will be required to submit their project proposals for the vacant lands to the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning within two years. If the ministry approves the project, it will be sent to the local land registry office, which will then monitor it.
Opposition parties put up a fierce resistance to the bill, criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for obeying orders coming from large businesses such as the construction sector. The final decision on the articles of the law will be made by the Cabinet, which will be able to determine which of the 89 countries will be added to the list of countries whose citizens are able to purchase property. The Cabinet will also be able to increase the 30-hectare limit on property purchase to 60 hectares as it deems acceptable. (Zaman Gazetesi)
