Emlak Konut Campaign Criticized by İPA President
In a recent social media post, Dr. Buğra Gökce, President of the Istanbul Planning Agency (İPA), criticized the campaign initiated by Emlak Konut. Gökce pointed out that the campaign, which includes 4,500 units in 25 projects, targets high-income individuals rather than low and middle-income groups.
The prices of the housing units offered in the campaign start at 5.95 million Turkish Lira. Gökce highlighted that a newlywed couple would need to pay a down payment of 1.19 million lira for a 1+1 unit, with the remaining 4.79 million lira to be financed through a loan. For a loan with a 60-month term, the monthly payments start at 166,000 lira. In another payment plan with a 120-month term, the monthly payment would be 61,698 lira. Gökce emphasized that 95% of employees in Turkey earn less than twice the minimum wage, making them ineligible to benefit from this campaign.
Gökce further criticized the Emlak Konut campaign for targeting the affluent rather than low and middle-income earners. He pointed out that housing projects developed with public lands and subsidies are being offered to high-income individuals as their third or fourth homes. He highlighted that these projects divert public resources away from the general population to benefit a select few, stating that this is not in line with the concept of social housing.
Gökce’s statement on social media sparked a debate on the true nature of these projects, questioning whether they truly serve the purpose of providing affordable housing as outlined in the constitution and the founding principles of the Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKİ).
The Emlak Konut campaign has raised concerns about the accessibility of housing for low and middle-income groups, shedding light on the challenges faced by many individuals in securing affordable housing in Turkey. As discussions continue on the implications of such initiatives, it remains crucial to prioritize the needs of all segments of society in housing policies and development projects.
