Facility management in gated settlements: challenges in Turkey-Istanbul experience

Over the last four decades, gated settlements have become widespread and managing them has become a controversial issue. In such estates, where homeowners’ associations are active in management, facility management companies (FM companies) and facility managers (FM managers) have become effective in providing professional support to private management. Parallel to this, the growing FM industry in developed countries has led to FM becoming institutionalised. However, unlike in developed countries, in Turkey, despite the existence of gated settlements around the city and the increase in the number of FM providers in these areas, institutionalisation has not been achieved. This has a direct impact on the management of gated settlements. The main purpose of this article is to examine FM practices, and their impact on the management of gated settlements in Istanbul, Turkey. The main method used to obtain data in the study is the in-depth interview technique. Eight semi-structured interviews were carried out with managers of large and well-known FM companies. The emerging issues are grouped under two headings: the failure of adaptation of FM and the nature of relationships between FM practitioners and others. The results show that the lack of institutionalisation makes it difficult for FM to gain legitimacy. Informal relationships increase, and the state is needed to regulate the system.