If You are Going to Sell Your Hotel, You Will Not Transfer the Certificate
Official titleRegulation on Amending the Regulation on the Certification of Simple Accommodation Facilities and Beach Establishments
New minimum requirements were determined for simple accommodation facilities and beach establishments, and the transfer of operating certificates outside inheritance was prohibited.
Before
There were no such detailed minimum technical standards, including room equipment and pool safety, or clear prohibition on the transfer of certificates for simple accommodation facilities.
After
Tourism certificates may be transferred only by way of inheritance; specific quality standards concerning rooms, pools, and staffing structures will become mandatory as of 01/11/2026.
Details of the Regulation
Through the regulation issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the transfer of simple accommodation tourism operating certificates, except through transfers contingent upon death or by way of inheritance, was completely prohibited. If it is determined that a certificate has been transferred in violation of this rule, provincial governorates shall impose administrative sanctions in accordance with the relevant provisions of the statute.
The new article added to the regulation sets out in detail the minimum standards with which facilities must comply. While a reception desk has become mandatory in facilities with 25 or more rooms, first-aid supplies and certified personnel have been required in all facilities. In addition, basic furnishings such as standard beds, bedcovers suitable for climatic conditions, electrical outlets, waste bins and wardrobes must be provided in guest rooms, whereas bathrooms must be fully equipped with shower cabins or curtains and sanitary-ware products.
For facilities with swimming pools, on the other hand, safety and hygiene precautions have been raised to the highest level. Non-slip surfaces around pools, children’s pools (excluding adult hotels), lifeguards, and warning signs prepared in at least two foreign languages have been made mandatory. Operators have been given until 1 November 2026 to comply with these technical standards, and it has been stipulated that inspections will also be conducted by Ministry inspectors.
Questions You Might Have
- Can I sell my business if it has an existing simple accommodation certificate?
- No, under the new regulation, the certificate cannot be transferred for reasons other than inheritance. A sale carries the risk of cancellation of the certificate.
- Is it mandatory for every facility to have a children’s pool?
- No, the children’s pool requirement does not apply to facilities that have previously announced that they accept only customers aged 12 and over.
- When will the new standards in hotels begin to apply?
- The requirements concerning physical characteristics (article 8/A) will enter into force on 1 November 2026.
Key Terms
- Ölüme bağlı tasarruf
- Legal transactions, such as a will, made by a person to take effect after their death.
- Vitrifiye
- Ceramic plumbing materials, such as sinks and toilets.
- Teselsül ettirilmek
- The arrangement of article or paragraph numbers so that they follow one another sequentially.
Affected Sectors
- Tourism
- Accommodation
- Beach management
Where we posted this
Follow Turkish legal developments
REGAS analyzed all 35 items in the Official Gazette of 26 August 2026; we published only 3 of them here.
REGAS summarizes every change in the Turkish Official Gazette in plain language and notifies you.
The REGAS app is currently Turkish-only. If you would like English in the app, the best way to make it happen is to support the developer: get the app and just say so.
REGAS Commentary
This regulation aims to raise the quality standard of boutique hotels and guesthouses. It may impose substantial renovation and personnel training costs on operators by the end of 2026; however, this will increase the quality of tourism in Turkey. Prohibiting the transfer of certificates outside inheritance is a strict measure intended to prevent the trading of certificates.