British expats moving to Turkey are risking their finances because they do not understand local and international laws that govern legal transactions like buying a home or getting a divorce.
The main barrier is language, says a study by the University of London.
The study scrutinised the financial and legal affairs of a group of British expats in Mugla, a popular holiday destination on Turkey’s Aegean Sea coastline.
Lifestyle and legal problems
The study identified a catalogue of lifestyle problems for expats mainly linked to not reading or speaking Turkish, including:
- Buying a home – With 15,5000 Brits living in Turkey, they make up the largest expat community owning property in the country
- Immigration and nationality status – Interaction of British and Turkish laws confused many Brits who did not understand their expat status or tax residency. Not speaking Turkish also excluded Brits from taking citizenship, which reduced their legal rights
- Work and cultural integration – Lacking language skills limited social interaction with the local community and the options to find work
“Often British settlers are excluded from accessing their full legal rights because of their cultural and linguistic differences, and because they have come from a different legal environment,” said Dr Prakesh Shah, co-author of the paper The Legal Adaptation of British Settlers in Turkey,
“There are many restrictions under Turkish law on where foreigners can buy property. No lawyer is required in the process, which can leave purchasers vulnerable. Even when lawyers are consulted they don’t always advise well and sometimes even act against the interests of the buyer if they know the seller, for instance.”
Expats unaware of the law
“If a British expat marries a Turkish partner, if the pair divorce, where the British spouse provided some or all the purchase price of a property, court action might not produce a result which favours them, meaning life savings can be lost.
“Some Brits in Turkey are unaware that they may have to rely on British laws in some instances, for example to make wills or in divorce cases.
“The issue of wills and inheritance is already causing some concern among British settlers and is likely to be a major legal issue in years to come.”
Although the paper is focussed on Turkey, many of the same points arise for British expats living overseas – especially outside of the European Union.
I think it’s always good to be cautious when buying property in a foreign country. The messiness of romance just means you need to be extra careful.