Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Calis Beach Forum => Expat & Property Owners Q and A Forum => Topic started by: SteveJ on September 20, 2010, 13:31:20 PM

Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: SteveJ on September 20, 2010, 13:31:20 PM
At my apartment I have a rear terrace (2.5m x 3.2m) which is unusable due the shade from the surrounding trees which can not be removed. I have considered converting this space into a second bathroom and I have received a quotation from a local builder (who is known to me) which seems very reasonable. The conversion would have no effect on the overall square meterage of the apartment.

Will I need to get permission from the local council or if not,
do I need to tell the local council before the work can start? Will I need to have my Tapu changed?

Any other 'legal' problems I've not considered?

Regards SteveJ

p.s. it's Scorchio over here at the mo!
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: KKOB on September 20, 2010, 13:36:02 PM
Shall we take bets on how long it takes for a complaint to be made by one of your neighbours if you go ahead with it ?
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 20, 2010, 13:38:32 PM
Steve,

Forget it.

With love,

Keith.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: SteveJ on September 20, 2010, 13:43:44 PM
Keith,

Is that 'forget it' because we both know the builder or 'forget it' because of the red tape involved? (or perhaps both)  :)
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 20, 2010, 13:48:55 PM
Neither!

I don't think you will get permission to do it and if you do it without, KKOB offers the correct outcome.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: welshbrickie on September 20, 2010, 14:52:16 PM
take a translator with you to the council offices and ask, the more information the better if he says you dont need planning get it in writting,but I doubt it.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: SteveJ on September 20, 2010, 15:26:19 PM
Thanks all, asked and answered. I will give the legal route a go as I happen to know a good translator. If that fails I'll just continue to use the back terrace for drying the washing!

Regards, SteveJ
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: stoop on September 20, 2010, 16:58:22 PM
Just stick a hot tub on it (or cold tub if that's more appropriate)
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: kizkucuk on September 20, 2010, 18:35:53 PM
If you want a second quote for the potential work please email me.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 20, 2010, 19:15:54 PM
Please don't use the forum to tout for business. Not even I do that.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: captainjon on September 20, 2010, 20:36:38 PM
Explain what you mean by a rear terrace.If the rear terrace is in fact a balcony with a floor above.Then the balcony is within the cartilage of the property.If it is a top terrace ie it has no roof on it that is considered totally different.The first description allows you to infill it with windows and therefore it makes a separate room and is legal.If however the terrace as you call it is an open balcony,it is then considered to be an enlargement/ extension of the property and would need planning approval.Having lived next door to Dogen Kaya,the beledye chief of planning,I had no probs with this.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: KKOB on September 20, 2010, 23:19:51 PM
Oh well, that's sorted then. Get it built and if anyone complains tell them that The Captain, Dogen Kaya's neighbour, "had no probs with this".  ;)
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: captainjon on September 21, 2010, 05:12:31 AM
This was not simply my opinion KKOB,it was the decision of the high court about two years ago.This was an action brought by a Turkish man who had been fined by the local Beledye for enclosing his balcony.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: milliemars on September 21, 2010, 10:45:39 AM
There have been a few people in Ovacik?Hisaronu area that have been told to put the terrace back as was,if they had enclosed it,so would be very wary.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: c1 on September 21, 2010, 11:41:21 AM
Is there a building book which contains a set of rules or guide lines? I doubt it myself if you build without writtern permission you leave yourself open to being fined etc. I would like to enclose some of our balconies but won't because of the back pocket verbal permission system.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: hubblebubble on September 21, 2010, 21:45:31 PM
....by the time that book had been written the majority of rules will have been changed at least once,
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: SteveJ on September 22, 2010, 10:47:40 AM
Captainjohn - My understanding is that terraces are on the groundfloor and balconies are not.

I went to the Council Offices this morning and asked Nikkie (Sunny D) to go with me as a translator - a very good move on my part as it made the whole process so much less stessfull and quicker.

She spoke to the Head of Planning on my behalf but within 20 seconds of explaining what I wanted to do he was shaking his head. Apparently I can do anything I want to within the space of the terrace but what I can't do is enclose the space by building walls. So, unless I wan't the first open air bog in Calis then the idea is a non-stater.If I do it without permission and there is a single complaint to the council I will be fined and forced to return the space to a terrace.

Regards  SteveJ
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 22, 2010, 11:21:14 AM
Was the outcome "forget it" then?

I wish I'd said that :D
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: KKOB on September 22, 2010, 12:15:49 PM
All bets are off then ! :D ;):D
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: tribalelder on September 22, 2010, 12:49:39 PM
UNLESS......I can see three such  Turkish owned properties from my apartment with totally enclosed balconies or do they come into the same category as wearing crash helmets?
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 22, 2010, 12:55:39 PM
I'm not entirely sure but firstly you need a complaint (as is true of many things over there) as nobody will care much or do much unless someone complains. Secondly, and I obviously don't know if this is the case near you Brian, but apartments of a more 'traditional' nature often have the balcony within the footprint of the block (examples can be seen between Genpa and Dolphin roundabout in Calis). Newer apartments tend to  have protruding balconies that reach out from the actual block of the property. I can see how one is not considered much of an issue while the other would be.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: tribalelder on September 22, 2010, 15:28:32 PM
In this particular instance they are all external to the footprint but as the roof of the enclosed balcony is in fact the balcony above it would seem to equate to the same thing. These three are all permanant structures not plastic curtains. They are three individual blocks and not on a complex. There are many such in Fethiye it just happens I can see these three within 100 meters. I could not be petty enough to complain as they are doing me no visual or physical harm :)
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: sunnyd on September 22, 2010, 18:27:46 PM
The planning department stated that the areas known as terraces or balconies are 'empty' spaces and therefore cannot be enclosed. As Steve stated you can do what you like to the space. The recent trend of enclosing balconies and terraces with the plastic curtains is also classed as enclosing the area, if reported will be liable for a fine and removal.
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: Scunner on September 22, 2010, 18:35:12 PM
If only I knew the Turkish for "forget it" I could have nicked that job off you Nikkie :D
Title: Converting a terrace to a bathroom?
Post by: sunnyd on September 22, 2010, 20:41:37 PM
haha  :)
There's no harm in asking  ;) and it was good to get answers from the horses mouth so to speak.  ;)