Mütareke istanbul'unda konut sorunu (1918-1922)

Abstract

This article examines the landlord-tenant relationship in Istanbul from the late 1918 to the end of 1922. In this period, Istanbul was under the Allied occupation and housing crisis badly hit the people who lived in this city. Housing shortages took place due to ongoing fires and internal migration. There was also a huge inflation rate and a high cost of living. A decrease in workers' payments and a rise in the price in the construction materials triggered this problem. The current rate of house building dramatically increased and the house construction almost stopped. All these created an opportunity that the landlords made massive rent increases. This article first explores the above issues and then shows how the majority of tenants, most of who were wage earners, founded an association to oppose the rent increases. Soon after the landlords found their own association. Both sides came together and discussed their problems. But they came up with no results. Neither the state representatives' nor the Allied Powers' participation helped to solve their problems. All these are the major themes that are discussed in this article.