**UPDATED FLASH MESSAGE FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN ANKARA**

"We can now confirm that the law relating to the purchase of property by foreigners in Turkey was ratified by Turkish Parliament on 7 January 2006 and is now in force." Official website of the British Embassy in Ankara, advice for Britons seeking to purchase property in Turkey

This long-awaited law, ratified at the beginning of 2006, finally standardised the rules affecting Britons, Americans and other nationalities who want to buy property in Turkey.

What is the new legislation?

• You can own up to 2.5 hectares or 25,000m2 of land or property (You can apply to the Council of Ministers to increase this to 30 hectares or 300,000m2 but acceptance isn't guaranteed)
• You can't buy in a military or security zone
• The same rights apply to you in Turkey as apply to Turkish property buyers in your country (ie Turkish citizens and companies can buy and own property in Britain and the US, so British and US citizens and companies can buy and own property in Turkey)
• British citizens can pay for property in either Turkish lira (YTL) or in British pounds (GBP)
• You can transfer money via your bank without limit
• Your application to buy your property must be registered at the local Land Registry
• You can buy in a village or rural area
• Your application to buy must be checked by the Turkish military
• You need only pay tax on their purchase in Turkey, not in the UK as well
  

For more information visit the Turkish Embassy website's special section on Buying property