A Guide to Setting Up Utilities in Your New Home

Moving into a new home in a foreign country is an exciting experience, but setting up utilities can seem complicated. This guide will help you subscribe to essential services in your name in Turkey. As of 2024, having an official utility bill in your name is a prerequisite for address registration at the migration office, which is vital for renewing your residence permit.

Essential Prerequisites

• Official Rental Agreement or Title Deed: A notarized rental agreement (verified at a notary's office) or a title deed (Tapu) is necessary to prove your right to use the property.
• Passport or Residence Permit (Kimlik): A valid passport or a Turkish residence permit (Kimlik) with a Foreigner Identification Number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası) is your main identification document.
• Tax Number (Vergi Numarası): A tax number is required for registering contracts and many financial and administrative matters.
• Compulsory Earthquake Insurance (DASK): This insurance is mandatory for water, electricity, and gas subscriptions. Without it, you cannot have a bill in your name.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Electricity (Elektrik)

Electricity services are provided by private companies. For example, in Istanbul, the company is CK Boğaziçi Elektrik.

Documents: General documents, the electricity meter number, and a valid Turkish phone number.

Costs: You must pay a security deposit of around 200 to 1,000 Turkish Lira, which is refunded when you cancel the subscription.

2. Water (Su)

Water services are provided by local municipalities, such as İSKİ in Istanbul and ASAT in Antalya.

Documents: General documents, the water meter number, and in major cities, an address registration document.

Costs: The water deposit varies from 200 to 700 Turkish Lira and may be added to your bill in installments.

3. Gas (Doğalgaz)

Natural gas is also supplied by private companies. The main providers are İgdaş in Istanbul and Başkentgaz in Ankara.

Documents: General documents, the gas meter number, and in some cases, an occupancy permit.

Costs: The gas deposit ranges from 600 to 6,000 Turkish Lira and is usually higher than for water and electricity.

4. Internet (İnternet)

Home internet is provided by companies like Türk Telekom, Turkcell Superonline, and Vodafone.

Documents: Passport or Kimlik, rental agreement, tax number, and a valid Turkish phone number.

Important Notes: Contracts are usually 1 to 2 years, and early termination may incur a penalty. The monthly cost for an unlimited 100 Mbps package can range from 90 to 190 Turkish Lira.

Important Tips and Recommendations

• In-Person Application: For foreigners, especially first-time applicants, it is recommended to apply in person at a customer service office.
• Address Registration: Address registration and getting a utility bill in your name are linked. You can begin the address registration process with a notarized rental agreement or a commitment letter from the property owner.
• Payment Methods: Bills can be paid in cash at post offices (PTT) or through bank applications and automatic payments (Otomatik Ödeme).

Summary

Setting up utilities in Turkey is a manageable process that requires preparation. The key is to have all necessary documents ready, especially a notarized rental agreement, passport, tax number, and DASK insurance, before visiting the relevant offices.

Key Points:

• DASK insurance is a vital prerequisite.
• The deposit amount varies for each subscription.
• In-person application is the most reliable method for foreigners.
• You can pay bills at PTT, through banks, or on the companies' websites.

Frequently Asked Questions