Goreme1990

Ibrahim this calculator is really helpful. http://gibba.co.uk/index1.php

Thanks Chris, This is really helpful. Lisa

Thanks Chris. Maybe we can catch up again when we head your way next year.

Hi Everyone, We might be doing a jaunt through some Greek islands next year, around May. We want to get from Meis to Kas by ferry. Will there be any Turkish run boats we can get from Greece to Turkey? Price and weblink would be great. Thanks. Lisa

I don't know the answer to your last question. At the moment it appears the Turkish government is responding to the influx of Syrians and other immigrants & refugees into Istanbul by applying stricter, more limited grounds under which you can get a residence permit in order to ensure everyone there is entitled to be there. I think you should ask the uni (?) where you'll be doing the internship about your particular situation. As they are in Turkey they can call 157, the number for the department that deals with residence & work permit questions. The problem as I see it is timing. Even if you meet the criteria for a residence permit, you mightn't get an appointment until after your planned date to leave the country, which will make your final month in Turkey (assuming you stay only 4 months), illegal.

Hi Nathaniel, I know people have done this in the past, but I have no idea if it is legal. I suspect that it isn't. Turkey has a pretty sophisticated immigration entry/exit record keeping system and keeps track of individuals' coming and goings. Lisa

Hi Ken, In Istanbul now you don't get an appointment at the time you apply online. You get told the appointment date a few weeks later (or longer). As has always been the case, the appointment can be anywhere from 2 months to 6 months later. The problem for Nathaniel is that although having the appointment paper makes you legal to stay in Turkey after your e-visa expires, if you leave before actually completing the appointment (and requested and received permission to leave Turkey for 15 days - this paper is no longer given automatically and now takes a few days to get), you are considered to have overstayed. Just getting an appointment for an ikamet makes your stay legal but not your exit, if you leave Turkey after your e-visa has expired but before your ikamet appointment. Lisa

Hi Nathaniel, I think you've been in contact with me via my blog. If you are the same person I know you will be coming to Istanbul. In that case, it is highly unlikely you can apply for and be granted a residence permit within the 4 months you are in Turkey. If you don't get it within the 4 months you will be considered to have overstayed your tourist visa, and possibly fined when you exit the country. Also, give the new rules of getting a residence permit in Istanbul (introduced a few months ago), unless you have a formal work contract, own immovable property or have a Turkish spouse, you are likely not to be granted one. You might want to rethink how long you plan to stay in Istanbul. Lisa

Thank you for your faith in me Ken!

Hi Eddie, According to Turkish law you will need to use a Turkish accredited guide. I can put you in touch with someone who might be able to help if you like.

Yes they do. They knock the old building down and dig a new hole and pour new foundations. The question is whether the concrete is any good.

The developer always builds a new building with more apartments than in the original building. For example, in my building (still not finished) there were originally 10 apartments and 2 shops. The new building will have 18 apartments and 2 shops. The extra 8 apartments belong to the developer. This is how they make a profit.

And my answer was the short version too!

Interesting is not the word I would use! Initial talks were held about three years ago and the building was only just been knocked down in March of this year. In between we had numerous arguments (I have written a 3000 word essay on this I can't get published - I don't think anyone believes what I've written can possibly be true) and delays, including waiting for the son of one owner to get a POA. This process was initially held up because of summer court hiatus, then a first POA was granted but it was another 6 months before the son had permission to sign the contract on his mother's behalf. Just when that was about to happen, she died, so we had to wait for the inheritance to be sorted out (also delayed because of summer court hiatus). Just when everything seemed set to go, another owner died. In the meantime, we had to pay out our kapici who was retiring after 23 odd years (no one is exactly sure how long which led to, you guessed it, delays). As many of the owners were waiting to sign the redevelopment contract to get their rent and moving expenses money from the developer which they would then use to pay the kapici, that too was delayed. The poor man was living on nothing and naturally threatened to sue us. I paid him all the money on time and even now don't know what is happening with his court case and whether I'll be in trouble too even though I haven't done anything wrong. In theory our building will take 9-12 months to build but insallah, I will believe it when I see it.

I don't think any of us can tell you the average age of buildings in Istanbul. Maybe the IBB has that information. As to your other questions, provided a person legally owns (has a tapu in their name) an apartment in a building that is to be knocked down and rebuilt, they will be paid an agreed amount by the developer for moving expenses and rent for the period it takes to rebuild. How much and for how long will be determined in negotiations made and specified in the contract. Usually owners don't need to pay more money for the new apartment, unless of course this is negotiated with the developer because, for example. the new apartments will be bigger. However, if an owner doesn't agree to having the building knocked down and redeveloped, and they are in the minority, their apartment will be offered for sale to the other owners. If the other owners don't want to buy it, TOKI takes it over and auctions it off. This only happens if a person absolutely refuses to agree to the redevelopment but the majority of home owners want it.