Home and Contents Insurance in Turkey Beyond DASK
DASK covers earthquake structural damage only. What voluntary building, contents, and liability insurance to add, and what homeowners can deduct at tax time.
What DASK does and doesn't cover — and what to add.
Step 1: Understand what DASK actually is
DASK (Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool) is mandatory earthquake insurance for any residential property in Turkey. It's a legal requirement, typically arranged by the landlord for a rented property, but it covers structural earthquake damage only — nothing else.
Step 2: Recognize the coverage gap
DASK does not cover: theft, fire not caused by earthquake, water damage, your personal belongings, or liability if something in your apartment causes harm to a neighbor. If any of those matter to you, you need a separate policy.
Step 3: Consider a standard home/contents policy (konut sigortasi)
Turkish insurers (Allianz, AXA, Anadolu Sigorta, and others already familiar from the health insurance market) also offer standard home and contents insurance covering fire, theft, water damage, and personal belongings. This is optional but worth pricing out, especially if you've brought valuable items with you.
Step 4: Ask about tenant liability specifically if you're renting
If you accidentally cause damage to the building itself (a burst pipe flooding a downstairs unit, for example), tenant liability coverage protects you from being personally responsible for repair costs. This is a common and inexpensive add-on worth asking about directly.
Step 5: Compare quotes rather than defaulting to whatever your landlord already has
Your landlord's DASK policy protects the building's structure, not your belongings inside it. Get your own quote for contents coverage specifically — it's a separate policy, even if arranged through the same insurer.
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