Risky Building Assessment in Turkey:
Your Rights and the Urban Renewal Process

Turkey's stock of more than 1.5 million at-risk residential units makes urban renewal both a necessity and an urgent priority. How do you know whether your building is at risk, and what are your rights in this process?

What Is a Risky Building?

Under Law No. 6306 on the Transformation of Areas Under Disaster Risk, a risky structure is defined as one with insufficient seismic resistance, one that has reached the end of its service life, or one that has suffered severe damage. The determination is formalised through a technical assessment by an institution authorised by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.

The Assessment Process

Risky building assessment involves extracting core samples, stripping concrete cover and conducting compressive strength tests. The building's seismic performance is evaluated against TBDY 2018 criteria. The licensed institution's report is uploaded to the Ministry's system and formal notice is served on the owners. Owners have the right to appeal; appeals are evaluated by an independent technical panel.

What Happens After Classification

Following notification, owners are typically given 60 days. If at least 2/3 of the shareholders reach agreement, the demolition process begins. Minority shareholders who do not agree may have their shares put up for sale by the Ministry. After demolition, owners can benefit from rental assistance, urban renewal credit and interest-rate support.

Strengthening vs Demolish-and-Rebuild

Both options can be considered depending on the building's existing structural system. Strengthening — adding shear walls, column jacketing or foundation reinforcement — can enhance seismic performance. However, demolish-and-rebuild in full TBDY 2018 compliance using modern structural systems and materials generally delivers more reliable safety and better long-term economics. At Home Yapı Mühendislik, we offer contracting and consultancy services covering the full urban renewal cycle from risky building assessment through to handover of the new building.