The staggering growth of rental rates forces people to look for various solutions. Some move from the familiar district to a cheaper one; others, from a spacious residence to a smaller apartment.
Those who can no longer afford the whole rent for an apartment are looking for roommates, and this becomes increasingly widespread among people of various ages, from students accustomed to splitting the rent to the almost-retired (70 years old).
Owners of residential property are actually a lot to blame in this situation, as they continue to raise the rent despite the Government’s imperative request to curb their enthusiasm. Landlords resort to various tricks, such as deposits for additional months, additional renovation payments, etc.
So the tensions between tenants and landlords keep rising. It should be noted, however, that home owners are having a tough time too: many complain that they leased their housing to foreigners because they had promised to pay more but are actually behind with their rent.
Sharing rental homes is therefore becoming increasingly popular in Turkey, especially among people who receive minimum wages. Such workers can no longer afford renting a home on their own in most large cities, especially if they need to feed and keep a family.
Having a roommate is indeed a good temporary solution while the authorities are dealing with rental rates and the rent-to-income ratio. Real estate agents, however, are warning tenants to be cautious because the number of fraudsters on websites offering to split the rent is growing. They are keen to take advantage of the situation and the local population’s gullibility to make a profit. So it’s better to rely on your acquaintances’ word of the mouth and recommendations to find roommates.
Prosecution of real estate agents operating off the books continues.