Electricity, water, gas and internet: a new owner’s utility accounts in Turkey, step by step

You have the keys, and you want to switch on the lights, turn on the water and run the heating. Here are the steps for opening the accounts in your name, and what to take with you to each provider.

Before handover: closing the seller’s accounts

• Agree with the seller on a final reading of the electricity, water and gas meters on handover day.
• Photograph the meters showing their readings and the date.
• Make sure the seller has closed their accounts and paid their final bills, because an open account can delay opening yours.

The documents you will usually need

1. The title deed in your name.
2. Your passport and tax number, or your foreigner number if you have a residence permit. See the tax number guide.
3. The compulsory earthquake insurance policy (DASK) for the water and gas accounts. See the compulsory earthquake insurance guide.
4. A means of payment for the deposit.

Electricity

• You apply to the designated supply company for your area, at a customer service office or via e-Devlet (the government portal) where this is available.
• You pay a deposit that is refunded when the account is closed.

Water

• With the metropolitan municipality’s water authority: TİSKİ in Trabzon and İSKİ in Istanbul.
• Compulsory earthquake insurance and a deposit are required.

Natural gas

• With the gas distribution company in the city.
• Compulsory earthquake insurance is required.
• If the flat or the boiler is new, an inspection of the installation and gas activation by a certified technician is required before use. See the heating systems guide.

Internet

• Several companies offer fibre and home internet. Ask the building management which providers are available in the building.
• Contracts usually come with a 12- or 24-month commitment. Read the cancellation terms if you do not live there all year round.

Building management

• Introduce yourself to the management of the building or complex, and register your contact details.
• Ask about maintenance fees and how to pay them. See the maintenance fees guide.

If you live outside Turkey

• Set up automatic payment of bills from your Turkish bank account. See the guide to opening a bank account.
• Or appoint a management company to keep track of the bills. See the guide to managing a property remotely.

After the utility accounts

If you are going to live in the property, register your address officially. See the address registration guide.

Summary

Three main providers: electricity, water and gas, with earthquake insurance required for two of them. Close the seller’s accounts with a final reading, open yours with the title deed, passport and tax number, and set up automatic payment if you live abroad.

We help our clients open their utility accounts after handover. Contact us.