Urban Transformation in Üsküdar: Kandilli, Çengelköy, Altunizade and Acıbadem Guide (2026)

Üsküdar spans very different areas: Kandilli, Çengelköy and Kuzguncuk on the Bosphorus, the dense housing of Altunizade and Acıbadem, the historic centre and the slopes of Çamlıca. This variety means each neighbourhood follows different rules in urban transformation. ÇET Yapı built the TED Üsküdar College campus in Kandilli. This guide covers municipal support, the rules in different areas and the right process.

Üsküdar Yenileniyor: municipal support

Üsküdar Municipality runs the Üsküdar Yenileniyor programme to renew risky buildings. Under conditions announced in December 2024 and approved by the Municipal Council, owners of buildings found risky under Law No. 6306 are eligible for a contribution to renewal costs:

Main conditions:

• Residing within Üsküdar
• No other property in Istanbul in the owner's, spouse's or dependants' names; no property outside Istanbul, or a share of at most 50%
• Having reached agreement for transformation under the programme
• Support is calculated on at most 80 m², based on the average Istanbul family size

Applications are made at uskudaryenileniyor.com. Conditions may change, so confirm the current terms with the municipality before applying.

Free rapid screening

By July 2024, applications had been made for 5,041 buildings under the rapid screening launched in integration with IMM and with KENT A.Ş. as adviser; the municipality said its teams planned to inspect 4,645 buildings. The inspections were free.

Rapid screening is a preliminary assessment. For rights under Law No. 6306, such as rent assistance, Yarısı Bizden and fee exemptions, a risky building assessment by a licensed institution is required. See our risky building assessment guide.

Rules that differ by area

Bosphorus front (Kandilli, Çengelköy, Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi): Much of these neighbourhoods is subject to zoning rules specific to the Bosphorus area, limiting height, density and appearance. The new building may differ in size from the old one, so getting the current zoning status before design is essential.

Historic centre and conservation areas: Conservation law applies in protected sites and around listed buildings, and projects may go through the regional conservation board. This can lengthen the process and affect cost. Listed buildings call for restoration rather than demolition; see our historic building restoration article.

Altunizade, Acıbadem and inland areas: In these dense apartment areas, transformation follows Istanbul's usual building-based process. Merging with neighbouring parcels can help with parking and layout efficiency; see our guide to multi-block sites and block-based renewal.

Çamlıca risky area: A 180,550 m² area in the Kirazlıtepe and Ferah neighbourhoods was declared a risky area by a Council of Ministers decision of 8 January 2018, and was later expanded to include the Küplüce and Mehmet Akif Ersoy neighbourhoods (AA, July 2023). Risky-area projects are run by public bodies; if your building is in this area, the process differs from building-based transformation.

Values and feasibility

January 2026 data put the average housing price in Üsküdar at TL 93,832 per m², among Istanbul's highest-value districts. High sale values can support a stronger sharing ratio for owners against the same construction cost. We discuss the dynamics in urban transformation in Istanbul's prime districts.

Support

In addition to Üsküdar Yenileniyor, Istanbul's Yarısı Bizden campaign gives owners of risky buildings a TL 875,000 grant, a TL 875,000 loan and TL 125,000 moving support per home; it has been extended to 31 December 2027 (Yarısı Bizden guide). For rent assistance see our rent assistance guide.

The right process in Üsküdar

1. Have a licensed institution carry out a risky building assessment.
2. Get the current zoning status and find out whether you are in the Bosphorus or a conservation area.
3. If you meet the income conditions, plan your Üsküdar Yenileniyor application.
4. Get offers from contractors on the same scenario (choosing a contractor).
5. Take the simple majority decision by shares and sign a notarised flat-for-land contract (flat-for-land guide).

ÇET Yapı in Üsküdar

ÇET Yapı built the TED Üsküdar College campus in Kandilli, Üsküdar, between 2018 and 2022, with 19,233 m² of total construction area on a 5,546 m² plot. The two-block campus has 85 classrooms and 5 kindergarten rooms, two conference halls, sports halls and a swimming pool. Completing a large campus in Kandilli has given us direct experience of the district's zoning and permit processes.

For your building in Üsküdar, estimate your new flat with our urban transformation calculator and contact us through our pre-application form.

Figures and support conditions are those announced on the dates cited. We recommend confirming the current conditions with the municipality before applying.