What happened?
TÜİK, Türkiye's statistics office, published its August 2026 Consumer Price Index bulletin on 3 September 2026. The 12-month average change in CPI was 31.79%. Annual inflation was 31.51% and the monthly rise was 1.84%. A year earlier, in August 2025, the 12-month average change was 39.62%.
Under Article 344 of the Turkish Code of Obligations, the rent for a renewed tenancy year may not rise by more than the 12-month average change in CPI over the previous tenancy year; the rule also applies to contracts longer than a year. The temporary 25% cap on residential rents ended on 1 July 2024, and the CPI rule in Article 344 has applied since then.
For contracts whose tenancy year renews in September, this is the latest rate covering the previous tenancy year. TÜİK will publish the September figure, which applies to October renewals, on 5 October 2026.
What does it mean?
For a residential contract renewing in September, the maximum new rent is the current rent multiplied by 1.3179. Landlord and tenant can agree a smaller increase; the law treats agreements within this limit as valid.
One detail matters for owners letting a newly handed-over flat for the first time: Article 344 applies to renewed tenancy periods, so the first rent is set freely by the two parties. Because later increases are capped by this rate each year, setting a realistic starting rent based on current comparables matters.
For contracts that have run for five years, or are renewed after five years, a court can set the rent in a rent determination case, taking into account the CPI rate, the condition of the property and comparable rents.
