ISTANBUL

You will be provided with a ‘hiring’ (‘Substitute Service Families’ Accommodation’ in today’s parlance).  This will be administered by the UK NSE who will set the contract with the Landlord/lady and the house will be much like a Families Quarter (FQ), only somewhat more palatial!  The relationship with the Landlord will very much depend on him/her.  You will pay ‘normal’ SFA rent rates, dependent on your rank, just as if you lived in SFA in the UK.  Your predecessor should be able to provide more details of your specific house and may send you photographs, etc.  They and/or the NSE will also be able to tell you your full Turkish mailing address.  The NSE will send you details of your allocated hiring including digital photographs of rooms and furniture.  If you have not received this then please contact the UK NSE.

All UK personnel are housed in Zekeriyaköy.  The village is situated some 15 miles to the northwest of Istanbul, and 3 miles from the nearest beach on the Black Sea.  It takes about 30 minutes to get to work.  Because of the roads and traffic, it takes approximately one hour (potentially much more during rush hour) to drive into central Istanbul.  Zekeriyaköy is largely a relatively new development of expensive and exclusive housing, for wealthy Turkish families.  (‘Old Zek’ is further up the hill from the main modern part of the village and is somewhat poorer).  Zekeriyaköy is a pleasant place to live, being near the sea and bounded by woods.  There is a good range of shops including a good supermarket, banks, hairdressers, restaurants, hardware shop, vets, etc, and the British International School, all within about 15 minutes’ walking distance, depending on where exactly you live.  The ‘Amerikan Hospital’ which is used by the UK community has a branch in Zekeriyaköy.  Also there are some lovely walks in the woods nearby or along the black Sea cliffs - within an easy drive.