Host Country Türkiye: The Housing Project of the Century

Host Nation Türkiye: The Housing Project of the Century is the most comprehensive social housing mobilization in the history of the Republic of Türkiye. The project was officially announced at a launch ceremony held on 24 October 2025 in Kayabaşı, Başakşehir, Istanbul, by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the project aims to construct a total of 500,000 social housing units across all 81 provinces through the General Directorate of Housing Development Administration (TOKİ). The initiative has been introduced under the slogan “Host Nation Türkiye”.

Scope and Objectives

The project aims to extend nationwide the construction expertise gained in earthquake-prone regions, create safe modern and resilient housing areas resilient to disaster risks, and counterbalance the sharp increases in housing prices and rental costs. It is projected that over two million citizens will become homeowners under favorable conditions through this program.

Under the Housing Project of the Century, housing units designed according to horizontal architectural principles will be implemented in all 81 provinces. These units will include a mix of 1+1 and 2+1 types with sizes ranging from 55 to 65 and 80 square meters. The project also includes the construction of 500 neighborhood houses, 500 mosques, 500 family health centers, 500 preschools, 500 sports halls, 500 handicraft production centers, and 500 guesthouses.

Neighborhood houses will contain funeral homes, activity areas for the elderly, and cafeterias. Mosques will be constructed in accordance with local architectural traditions. The project is planned not only as a housing production initiative but also as a comprehensive urban development program that integrates social life spaces at the neighborhood level.

Distribution by Province

The distribution of the 500,000 housing units across provinces has been determined. The planned construction includes 100,000 units in Istanbul, 30,780 in Ankara, 21,520 in İzmir, 13,940 in Gaziantep, 13,670 in Konya, 13,190 in Şanlıurfa, 13,000 in Bursa, and 12,170 in Diyarbakır.

According to President Erdoğan’s announcement, Istanbul will host a total of 100,000 housing units across both its European and Anatolian sides. Ankara will receive 30,000 units, İzmir 21,000, Bursa Gaziantep and Konya 13,000 each, and Hatay and Diyarbakır 12,000 each.

Rental Social Housing Model

For the first time in Türkiye, TOKİ will implement a “rental social housing” model under the Housing Project of the Century. This model will apply exclusively in Istanbul.

In addition to the 100,000 social housing units, 15,000 rental units will be produced. Rents will be set below market rates and units will be available for lease for a period of three years. The state will manage, maintain, and supervise these rental units.

This model aims to curb excessive rent increases and facilitate access to affordable rental housing for low-income citizens.

Housing Sizes and Sales Prices

The types and prices of housing units to be constructed under the project vary by province.

In provinces outside Istanbul:

• The sale price of 55 m² 1+1 units is 1,800,000 TL. A 10 percent down payment of 180,000 TL will be required, with monthly installments of 6,750 TL over 240 months.
• The sale price of 65 m² 2+1 units is 2,200,000 TL. The down payment is 220,000 TL and the monthly installment is 8,250 TL.
• The 80 m² 2+1 units will be sold for 2,650,000 TL, with a down payment of 265,000 TL and monthly installments of 9,938 TL.

The prices determined for Istanbul are as follows:

• 55 m² 1+1 apartments at 1,950,000 TL with a down payment of 195,000 TL and monthly installments of 7,313 TL,
• 65 m² 2+1 apartments at 2,450,000 TL with a down payment of 245,000 TL and monthly installments of 9,188 TL,
• 80 m² 2+1 apartments at 2,950,000 TL with a down payment of 295,000 TL and monthly installments of 11,063 TL.

All units will be offered for sale with a 10 percent down payment and repayment terms of up to 240 months.

Quotas and Application Conditions

Special quotas have been allocated for specific social groups under the project.

• 5 percent for families of martyrs, victims of terrorism, war and duty-related disabilities, and veterans,
• 5 percent for citizens with disabilities,
• 20 percent for retirees,
• 10 percent for families with three or more children,
• 20 percent for young people aged 18 to 30.

Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Türkiye, at least 18 years of age, and have held citizenship status for at least ten years. Applicants and their spouses or children must not own a registered property.

Monthly net household income must not exceed 145,000 TL in Istanbul and 127,000 TL in other provinces. Families of martyrs and war or duty-related disabled persons are exempt from this income criterion.

Applicants must have resided in the relevant province or district for at least one year prior to the application period. For retirees and residents of earthquake zones, registration of residence or population records is sufficient.

Application and Campaign Process

Applications for the Housing Project of the Century will be accepted between 10 November and 19 December 2025 through Ziraat Bank, Halkbank, and Emlak Katılım Bank. Applications will also be accepted via the e-State platform.

Lottery draws to determine eligible beneficiaries will be conducted under notary supervision between 29 December 2025 and 27 February 2026. Citizens selected through this process will become homeowners according to the established payment plan.

According to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, construction activities will commence simultaneously with the start of applications. The first housing units are scheduled for delivery in March 2027.

Financing and Payment Plan

The housing units under the project will be offered for sale under state guarantee through a long-term, low-installment payment model. All payment plans can be extended up to 240 months (20 years).

In his speech, President Erdoğan stated that sale prices will start at 1,800,000 TL and monthly installments will begin at 6,750 TL. The 10 percent down payment requirement has been set to facilitate broader participation across income groups. This payment system is designed to enable citizens to become homeowners through long-term, fixed-installment, state-guaranteed financing.

Social Infrastructure and Urban Planning in Project Areas

The Housing Project of the Century is based on a planning approach that goes beyond housing production to address the infrastructural and social needs of collective living. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and executed by TOKİ, the project includes the construction of:

• 500 neighborhood houses,
• 500 mosques,
• 500 family health centers,
• 500 daycare centers (preschools),
• 500 handicraft production centers,
• 500 sports halls, and
• 500 guesthouses.

Neighborhood houses will include funeral homes, activity areas for the elderly, and cafeterias. The project will create residential areas supported by social infrastructure, educational facilities, and healthcare services.

Place of the Project in Türkiye’s Social Housing Policy

The Housing Project of the Century continues the tradition of large-scale social housing initiatives previously implemented in Türkiye. Previous programs carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change through TOKİ include the “50,000 Social Housing Units”, “100,000 Social Housing Units”, and “250,000 Social Housing Units – My First Home, My First Plot, My First Business” projects. As of 2025, these initiatives have resulted in the construction of 1,740,000 social housing units nationwide, with an additional 280,000 units currently under construction. The Housing Project of the Century represents the fourth and most comprehensive phase of this continuum.

Launch Ceremony and Participants

The project’s launch ceremony took place in Kayabaşı Neighborhood, Başakşehir, where housing units were constructed under the “My First Home” initiative launched in 2022. Alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum also attended the event.

Deputies from all 81 provinces, representatives of civil society organizations, and residents from the area where model housing units are located attended the ceremony. Keys to housing units completed under the “My First Home” initiative were also handed over during the same event.

In his speech at the ceremony, President Erdoğan described the mobilization of 500,000 social housing units as the beginning of a new era within the “Türkiye Century” vision. He emphasized the project’s goal by stating, “In the Türkiye Century, we are implementing the Housing Project of the Century and launching our mobilization of 500,000 social housing units.”

Project Timeline

The project will commence with the application process in November 2025. Lottery draws will be completed by the end of February 2026, and construction will begin simultaneously in various provinces during the same year. The first housing units are scheduled for delivery in March 2027. The majority of construction is planned to be completed by the end of 2028.