DASK vs. Real Home Insurance in Türkiye
Mandatory DASK (Doğal Afet Sigortaları Kurumu) insurance is required by law for residential properties under Decree-Law No. 587, but it's strictly limited to basic structural earthquake damage. For everything else — theft, fire, water damage, your own belongings, and liability toward neighbors — property owners and tenants rely on voluntary private policies.
The gap catches people off guard because DASK feels like "the" home insurance in Türkiye, since it's the one everyone is legally required to have. It isn't a substitute for a real policy — it's a narrow, state-run safety net for one specific risk.
Legal basis
Decree-Law No. 587 (mandatory)
What DASK covers
Structural earthquake damage only
What it excludes
Contents, theft, non-earthquake disasters
What DASK Covers vs. Where It Falls Short
DASK pays out only for direct earthquake damage to a building's structural elements:
Foundations, outer walls, roofs, staircases, elevators
- DASK Excludes
- Personal belongings, electronics, furniture
Damage from earthquake-induced fire, explosion, tsunami, or landslide
- DASK Excludes
- Debris removal costs
—
- DASK Excludes
- Market-value differentials above the state-capped payout
—
- DASK Excludes
- Temporary hotel stays while repairs happen
—
- DASK Excludes
- Non-earthquake disasters: storms, plumbing bursts, fire unrelated to a quake, theft
| DASK Covers | DASK Excludes |
|---|---|
| Foundations, outer walls, roofs, staircases, elevators | Personal belongings, electronics, furniture |
| Damage from earthquake-induced fire, explosion, tsunami, or landslide | Debris removal costs |
| — | Market-value differentials above the state-capped payout |
| — | Temporary hotel stays while repairs happen |
| — | Non-earthquake disasters: storms, plumbing bursts, fire unrelated to a quake, theft |
The Three Policies That Actually Fill the Gap
A comprehensive private setup in Türkiye is usually built from three layers on top of DASK:
Voluntary Building Insurance (Konut Sigortası)
Tops up DASK in two ways: if severe earthquake damage exceeds DASK's state-capped payout, a private policy can cover the remaining gap up to full replacement value; separately, it covers non-earthquake structural risks — fire, explosions, heavy storms, landslides, urban flooding, and internal plumbing pipe bursts.
Contents Insurance (Eşya Sigortası)
Since DASK covers zero personal items inside a home, this policy protects what's actually yours: electronics, computers, TVs, white goods, furniture, and clothing, against burglary/theft, water ingress, fire, and power-surge damage to electrical devices.
Third-Party Liability & Emergency Assistance (Asistans)
Comprehensive policies routinely bundle third-party liability (üçüncü şahıs mali mesuliyet) — covering you if, say, a burst pipe in your apartment floods the unit below — plus 24/7 "asistans" access to emergency plumbers, locksmiths, and boiler repair, and temporary hotel coverage if your home becomes uninhabitable during major repairs.
Homeowner vs. Tenant Responsibilities
DASK requirement
- Homeowners
- Mandatory — required to transfer title deed (TAPU) or register utilities
- Tenants
- Not required; the landlord's policy covers the building's structure
Policy recommendation
- Homeowners
- Combined building (Konut) + contents insurance
- Tenants
- Standalone contents insurance (Eşya Sigortası)
Tax angle
- Homeowners
- DASK and voluntary home-insurance premiums are generally deductible from declared rental income under the actual-expense (gerçek gider) method
- Tenants
- Not applicable — tenants don't declare rental income on the property they live in
| Aspect | Homeowners | Tenants |
|---|---|---|
| DASK requirement | Mandatory — required to transfer title deed (TAPU) or register utilities | Not required; the landlord's policy covers the building's structure |
| Policy recommendation | Combined building (Konut) + contents insurance | Standalone contents insurance (Eşya Sigortası) |
| Tax angle | DASK and voluntary home-insurance premiums are generally deductible from declared rental income under the actual-expense (gerçek gider) method | Not applicable — tenants don't declare rental income on the property they live in |
Before You Buy a Policy
A few practical things to confirm rather than assume:
- Don't assume your landlord's DASK policy protects your belongings — it only covers the building's structure
- Ask specifically for a quote that itemizes contents coverage (Eşya Sigortası), even if it's bundled with a building policy
- Check what DASK's current payout cap is versus your building's actual rebuild cost — that gap is what Konut Sigortası is for
- Ask directly about third-party liability coverage if you're renting — it's usually a cheap add-on that protects you from a neighbor's repair bill
- Compare quotes from a couple of insurers (Allianz, AXA, Anadolu Sigorta, and others active in the Turkish market) rather than accepting the first one offered
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- Decree-Law No. 587 — mandatory earthquake insurance (DASK)
- DASK sigortası kira gelirinden düşülür mü? — Emlak Kulisi — emlakkulisi.com/guncel/dask-sigortasi-kira-gelirinden-dusulur-mu/632585
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