Condominium Ownership Law: Which Common Charges Are Tenants Not Required to Pay?

During this period of rapidly rising common charges, millions of tenants may unknowingly be paying expenses that legally belong to the property owner.

According to the Condominium Ownership Law, the primary responsibility for common expenses rests with the property owner. Tenants can only be held responsible for daily operational and usage expenses—cleaning, common area electricity, routine maintenance. Large-scale renovation and repair expenses that affect the building's structural integrity, common facilities, or value belong directly to the property owner.

The law also limits the tenant's total responsibility for common charges to the amount of rent paid. If a tenant makes a payment in this regard, the amount in question can be deducted from the rent debt.

In practice, many condominium administrations reflect major expenses such as elevator renovation, exterior facade repairs, or structural reinforcement in the common charge statement; directly billing tenants for these items violates the law. Average condominium charges in Istanbul showed an increase of 40-60 percent compared to the previous year.