Beyoğlu is the district where building management in Istanbul demands the most expertise. Most of its stock is listed, in a conservation area, or more than a century old, and its use is split between homes, offices, retail and tourism.
In a listed building nothing is a simple repair
In a listed Beyoğlu building, painting the facade, changing the windows, repairing the roof, even where the air-conditioning unit goes, is not a free decision. It requires the approval of the Regional Conservation Board, and the process calls for drawings.
The mistake we see often runs like this: the owners’ assembly properly resolves on the improvement, a contractor is found, work starts, and an administrative penalty follows. By that point both money and time have gone, and the work usually has to be undone.
In the Beyoğlu buildings we manage we research the permit process before the decision is taken and give owners a realistic view of time and cost. Where the work amounts to restoration, we say from the outset that a qualified project author must be engaged.
The short-term letting problem
Letting residential units to tourists on a short-term basis is widespread in Beyoğlu, and it creates concrete problems for the owners who live there: a constantly changing occupant, noise at night, wear on the common areas and weakened security.
The matter is subject to specific rules under the Condominium Law and related legislation, and whether the management plan contains a restriction is decisive. We examine the position in the particular building and explain to owners, on the documents, which legal routes are open.
Narrow streets, tall buildings
Beyoğlu’s street pattern seriously restricts vehicle access. Erecting scaffolding for a roof repair, moving materials for a services renewal and removing bulky waste cannot be done without planning. We programme this work in batches and with the permits obtained.