When buying a house, don't just look at the title deed and permit: Your home could be at risk of flooding

Homebuyers who rely solely on title deeds, permits and occupancy certificates may overlook a critical risk, according to lecturer Tuğçe Yılmaz Karan, who warned that legal status does not guarantee a building is safe from disasters. She said zoning of stream beds for development and increasing concrete construction are raising flood risk in Turkey. Karan urged buyers to check flood hazard maps, the area's past flooding history and local infrastructure before purchasing. The warning matters because standard property due diligence in Turkey typically covers legal paperwork rather than environmental exposure. Watch for whether flood-risk disclosure becomes a routine part of property transactions.