Asked to pay a deposit before viewing in person
A legitimate landlord or agent in Istanbul's market doesn't need payment before you've seen the unit — this is one of the most common scam patterns targeting foreigners searching remotely.
Listing price in USD/EUR, well above comparable local listings
Legitimate long-term rentals are priced in TRY. A unit priced and quoted only in foreign currency, significantly above the neighborhood's TRY-equivalent range, is usually targeting tourists or scam-susceptible foreigners rather than long-term residents.
Landlord unwilling to notarize the lease
A notarized lease is standard practice and required for your residence permit application. Reluctance here is a serious red flag, not a minor inconvenience.
No verifiable UAVT address code
Every registered residential address has one. If the landlord can't or won't provide it, the building may not be properly registered — which will block your residence permit application regardless of how good the apartment is.
Pressure to decide and wire money same-day
Istanbul's rental market moves fast in popular areas, but genuine urgency looks like "other viewings are booked this week," not "wire the deposit in the next hour or lose it."
Want pre-screened listings instead?
The Housing Shortlist File is pre-screened for foreigner-friendly landlords, so these checks are already done for you.
See the Housing Shortlist File