July 20, 2026 · Updated: July 23, 2026

What Is Additional-Work Payment (Hakediş)? Its Practical Meaning in Renovation and Construction

A Turkey-specific, practical explanation of how to record additional work and payment entitlement (hakediş) in writing for renovation and construction labor jobs.

Sözleşmeler Editör Ekibi · İçerik editörü

additional work
payment entitlement
construction
renovation

This guide is provided in English for reference. Document templates and tools linked below open on their Turkish pages — generated contract and petition text stays in Turkish (see the note on the English home page).

The difference between additional work and the main job

In a renovation or construction-labor contract, the "main job" is the scope the parties agreed on at the outset — for example, bathroom tiling, kitchen-cabinet installation, painting, or rough-structure labor. "Additional work," on the other hand, is anything outside that scope that comes up during the job, or that the client/contractor requests afterward. The phrase "let's also do this" starts with good intentions, but if the price and timeline aren't discussed, that's exactly where disputes begin. A surprise behind a wall during plumbing work, an extra outlet, an extra coat of paint, or a material change are typical examples of additional work.

"Hakediş" (payment entitlement) is a practical term for the portion of completed work that has earned payment. It can be used as a monthly entitlement, a stage entitlement, or an additional-work entitlement. This article is not legal advice; its aim is to clarify how to keep a written record of additional work and payment in everyday life. Large projects may use more detailed survey, unit-price and technical-specification practices — but the same discipline can be established even in a small renovation, with simple forms.

Why a written additional-work record is essential

A verbal instruction for additional work is risky for both sides. The client may say "that was already included in the price"; the contractor may say "we discussed that separately." A written record fixes the description of the work, the approximate quantity, the unit price or lump-sum price, any schedule impact, and the approval date. Starting work without approval is the most common source of regret, especially in small renovations. A WhatsApp message can help, but on its own it may not clarify the price, VAT and delivery terms.

A good additional-work form contains at least: a reference to the main contract, a brief description of the additional work, the price (with VAT status made clear), the payment timing, the parties' names/titles, the date and signatures. Adding a photo or survey note strengthens the evidence; converting images to PDF and merging them with the main package keeps the archive organized. If you write an "approximate price," also state the condition under which it will be finalized — for example, a final calculation after measurement.

How does payment entitlement work in practice?

On small jobs, the additional-work fee is often collected at the end of the job, or added to a stage payment. On longer labor contracts, drafting a periodic entitlement protects both sides: you write down what's been completed, deduct any withholding/advance, and pay the remainder. For cash payments, keep a receipt; for bank payments, keep a transfer with a description ("… renovation additional-work entitlement"). A transfer without a description often creates a later "what was this payment for?" dispute.

The main contract should specify in advance how additional work will be managed: a written-approval requirement, a unit-price list, a survey-increase rate, or a "by mutual agreement" rule. Keeping the scope and payment clauses clear in the construction-labor contract template also makes any later additional-work form less contentious. If the schedule slips, the new completion date and any delay consequences should also be recorded in the additional-work note.

Common mistakes

Leaving the scope as "everything included," handling additional work only through messaging, saying "we'll figure out the price later," never discussing a schedule extension, and forgetting additional items at delivery — recording only the main job in the minutes document. Another mistake: the person doing the additional work is different from the contractor named in the main contract, but this is never documented. If there's a subcontractor or an extra craftsman, put that relationship in writing. If it's not decided upfront who buys the materials, a price dispute becomes almost inevitable.

VAT, withholding tax and invoice/receipt needs come up separately for businesses; even between individuals on small jobs, receipt discipline helps as evidence later. A claim of "I paid the contractor in cash" can be weak without a counter-record. Splitting payment into stages helps both cash flow and quality control. If there's incomplete work, writing a deduction from the entitlement or a completion deadline reduces the ambiguity of "I paid, it's done."

Example scenario: an extra outlet and cabinet in a kitchen renovation

Suppose the main contract covers kitchen-cabinet installation and countertop labor. During the job, two extra outlets and an extra cabinet door are requested. The correct sequence: a short additional-work form is filled in first (work item, price, schedule impact), the parties sign it, then the work is done, payment is tied to a receipt/transfer, and these items are also checked at delivery. The wrong sequence: the craftsman does the work, then "an extra 15,000" is discussed afterward — trust breaks down.

Even in this small example, a written record takes only a few minutes; a verbal negotiation can turn into weeks of resentment. The same logic applies to tile-quantity increases, a paint-color change, or fixture removal/reinstallation. A photographic "before/after" record is especially useful for hidden plumbing work.

Ready-made form and checklist

The site's additional-work payment-entitlement template helps you produce a quick record by filling in the work description, price and approval fields. Use it together with your construction-labor or renovation contract: main scope first, then deviations in writing. At delivery, it's also worth noting on the delivery-acceptance minutes whether the additional items were completed. Archive all the PDFs in a single package.

Summary checklist: is the additional work within the main scope, or separate? Were the price and schedule approved in writing? Was the payment documented? Are photos/attachments in the archive? If you can answer yes to these, the ambiguity of "we agreed verbally" is largely removed. An additional-work entitlement isn't an exaggerated formality — even in a small renovation, it's a simple habit for trust and clear payment.

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This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.