The sudden fluctuation of house prices and rents had an impact on every aspect of life. However, the amount of housing, both for rent and for sale, did not suddenly evaporate. In other words, a certain trend has continued in housing construction for years. In the meantime, Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) continued its housing production, especially for low-income and fixed-income citizens. In the meantime, of course, the commercially-oriented houses were also produced by TOKI. However, it seems that the houses produced for low and fixed incomes were far from being sufficient.
With the housing market being turned upside down, Minister Murat Kurum has announced the project they have developed for citizens who want to build their own house. Accordingly, the treasury lands in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Adana will be sold to citizens under favorable conditions, and the state will undertake the project and infrastructure of the house. The headline of the news at first reminded of the slums built on Treasury lands in the past, especially during election periods. However, in this application, the state will prepare the project and infrastructure of the house and give it to those who want to build a house. Therefore, it would not be correct to talk about the return of the shantytown period. In addition, there is a side that has been applied in our country for many years in the statement of the Minister Institution. For example, in the past, people used to come together, form a building cooperative, and after purchasing the land, they would have their buildings built by giving them to a contractor. There was no TOKİ at the time I mentioned, but now that there is such a state institution, it is possible to have TOKİ lead and implement this work. Thus, the works are carried out under the control of the state.
Let me immediately point out that the statement made by the Authority is not the rediscovery of space. It would not be wrong to say that the old practices that have been applied in our country for years but have been abolished in recent years with the transfer of these works to TOKİ. As such, there has been a single-party government for 20 years and TOKİ continues its activities. We can say that TOKİ continues to lead the housing construction in our country. So why couldn't the housing problem that has just erupted be seen and the necessary measures were not taken? TOKİ did not make a move to make more social housing, or more precisely, those with low and fixed incomes, to become homeowners. Because, as a state institution, TOKİ could meet all kinds of needs from land procurement to construction control. This means that, as in many issues, the rulers did not foresee and could not foresee that a housing problem would break out.
In a project led by TOKİ, it would have been easier to ensure that people with low and fixed incomes have a home. In particular, TOKİ could enable the new generation to enter life safely by making the homeless people homeowners. However, after that, TOKİ can do its duty if desired. However, he should not act with a merchant attitude. For example, while selling social housing at very low prices compared to today's conditions, if a citizen who owns such a social housing pays the specified installments for 10 years or more, in the meantime, when he goes to the bank, he still pays 3-4 thousand liras of his debt, and the remaining payments go to interest. If he finds out, the work done will be neither a social housing application nor an application for the solution of the housing problem. Because of this, although agricultural lands are constantly being opened to construction, the housing problem is growing. In short, instead of making and announcing sudden decisions, it is necessary to think about and turn to long-term solutions. In other words, it would be wrong to create new housing riches to meet the needs of the society.