HÜDA PAR has submitted a draft bill to parliament proposing to exempt residential properties of up to 200 square metres from property tax, in a move aimed at easing the financial burden on homeowners and protecting citizens' right to housing.

The bill, titled the "Draft Law on Amendments to the Property Tax Law", was submitted to the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) with the signatures of HÜDA PAR Chairman Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu and the party's MPs Şahzade Demir, Faruk Dinç and Serkan Ramanlı, representing Gaziantep, Mersin and Batman, respectively.

Under the proposal, citizens who own a single home with a gross floor area of no more than 200 square metres would be exempt from property tax, regardless of their income or social status.

The exemption would also apply to people who own more than one property, provided they designate and document one home of up to 200 square metres as their actual residence. The property must be used for residential purposes rather than commercial gain.

Proposal aims to protect the right to housing

In its justification, HÜDA PAR cited several provisions of the Turkish Constitution, including those concerning the principles of the social state, the state's fundamental responsibilities, the right to housing and the fair distribution of the tax burden.

The party argued that the social-state principle requires the government to protect economically and socially disadvantaged citizens, address income inequality and ensure decent living conditions for everyone.

It also stressed that the state's responsibility should not be limited to helping citizens acquire homes, but should extend to protecting their existing residences from financial hardship caused by excessive taxes and other economic pressures.

Referring to Article 57 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to housing, the draft argued that the state has a duty to take measures to meet citizens' housing needs and prevent financial burdens from threatening their ability to maintain their homes.

HÜDA PAR calls for fairer property taxation

The proposal also refers to Article 73 of the Constitution, which requires citizens to pay taxes according to their financial means and identifies the fair distribution of the tax burden as a key objective of fiscal policy.

HÜDA PAR noted that the existing legislation grants property tax exemptions to certain groups, including people in need, pensioners, widows and orphans who own a single residence. However, other citizens who live in their own homes but do not fall into these categories are not eligible for the same exemption.

The party argued that taxing homes of up to 200 square metres used solely to meet basic housing needs, rather than generate commercial income, runs counter to the principle of fair taxation.

The proposed amendment seeks to extend the exemption to a wider section of society, particularly low- and middle-income households, while ensuring that property taxes are distributed more fairly.

The bill must pass through parliament's legislative process before it can enter into force. (ILKHA)