Property insurance in Turkey is not optional paperwork — it is a legal requirement tied directly to the country’s seismic risk, and the rules around it keep evolving. This guide covers what compulsory earthquake insurance actually covers today, the voluntary policies that fill the gaps DASK leaves open, and the broader disaster insurance reform currently working its way through Turkish legislation. If you own or are about to buy property in Turkey, understanding this system properly protects both your investment and your ability to complete basic transactions like utility connections and notarised sales.
Insurance in Turkey: Compulsory vs Voluntary
With insured real estate, owners no longer need to worry about unforeseen situations and can hold or rent out their property with genuine peace of mind — but only if the right combination of compulsory and voluntary coverage is actually in place, rather than assumed. The rest of this guide walks through exactly what that combination looks like today.
Insurance in Turkey falls into two main categories: compulsory and voluntary. The compulsory layer is DASK, the state-run earthquake insurance mandatory for all property owners in Turkey, including foreigners. The voluntary layer, known as Konut Sigortası (comprehensive home insurance), covers everything DASK does not — fire, water damage, theft, liability toward neighbours, and the contents of the home. Most experienced owners in Turkey carry both, since DASK alone leaves significant gaps.
DASK – Doğal Afet Sigortaları Kurumu
DASK, or Doğal Afet Sigortaları Kurumu (the Natural Disaster Insurance Institution), issues mandatory earthquake insurance for residential properties across Turkey. The programme is governed by Law No. 587 on Compulsory Insurance and applies to every property owner within municipal boundaries, regardless of nationality — no Turkish citizenship is required to hold or renew a DASK policy.
DASK covers physical damage to the structure of a residential building caused by earthquake and directly related events (fire, explosion, landslide, or tsunami triggered by the earthquake). It does not cover the contents of the home, non-earthquake events like flooding or theft, or commercial and unregistered structures. This is the single most common misunderstanding among both Turkish and foreign owners: DASK protects the building shell, not what is inside it or the full range of things that can go wrong.
Current DASK Coverage Amounts
The maximum guarantee amount per DASK policy is not fixed — it is automatically increased each month in line with Turkey’s Domestic Producer Price Index (base year 2003=100), without any additional premium being charged for the increase. As of 2026, the maximum coverage sits at roughly TL 2 million, up from under TL 1 million just a few years ago, reflecting how aggressively the cap has had to be revised upward alongside Turkish lira inflation. Because the figure moves monthly, always check the current maximum directly on the official DASK website before renewing rather than relying on a figure quoted in an older article or listing.
Annual DASK premiums are modest relative to the coverage provided, typically running from roughly TL 150 up to TL 1,000-plus per year depending on the property’s size, construction type, location, and earthquake risk zone. Properties in Istanbul and other high-risk zones along the North Anatolian Fault generally carry higher premiums than equivalent properties in lower-risk regions like much of the Turkish Riviera.
Why DASK Compliance Matters Beyond the Insurance Itself
A valid DASK policy is not just a protective measure — it is a practical prerequisite for several everyday transactions in Turkey. Utility companies generally require proof of current DASK coverage before connecting or transferring electricity and water accounts, and notaries typically require it before finalising a property sale (Tapu transfer). Letting a DASK policy lapse can therefore create real friction well beyond the insurance risk itself, which is part of why enforcement has tightened in recent years after a long period where many owners simply ignored the requirement.
Increased Enforcement and the Move Toward ZAS
In the past, a significant share of property owners in Turkey ignored compulsory earthquake insurance despite the legal requirement, and enforcement was inconsistent. That has changed. Following the devastating February 2023 earthquakes in southern Turkey, both public awareness and government enforcement of DASK compliance increased substantially, and Turkey has been working on a broader reform: transitioning from ZDS (Zorunlu Deprem Sigortası, compulsory earthquake insurance) to a wider-scope ZAS (Zorunlu Afet Sigortası), or compulsory disaster insurance.
ZAS is expected to be legislated and implemented in 2026, expanding mandatory coverage from earthquakes specifically to a broader range of natural disasters. The stated intent is for ZAS to also extend to cover the contents of a property, not just the building structure — closing one of the most common gaps that currently pushes owners toward separately purchasing Konut Sigortası. As with any legislation still moving through the process, exact coverage terms, premium structure, and the implementation timeline can shift before final enactment, so buyers and owners should treat ZAS as a confirmed direction of travel rather than a locked-in set of final terms until it is formally enacted.
Konut Sigortası: Filling the Gaps DASK Leaves Open
Because DASK covers only earthquake damage to the building structure, most owners — particularly those renting out their property or using it as a second home — also take out a voluntary Konut Sigortası policy. This comprehensive home insurance typically covers fire, water leakage and flooding, theft and burglary, storm and other weather damage, liability toward neighbours (for example, water damage that leaks into a unit below), and the contents of the home itself, including furniture and appliances. Premiums for Konut Sigortası vary by insurer, property value, and coverage level, but are generally still modest relative to the protection provided, and many Turkish insurers offer combined DASK-plus-Konut packages that simplify renewal into a single annual transaction.
How Foreign Buyers Obtain DASK Coverage
Foreign owners can purchase and renew DASK policies through the same channels available to Turkish citizens: directly through the DASK website, through most Turkish banks, or through a licensed local insurance broker. A Turkish tax number and the property’s title deed (Tapu) details are typically required to issue a policy. Many buyers arrange DASK coverage as part of the closing process when purchasing property, since it is generally required before the notary will finalise the Tapu transfer in the buyer’s name.
What This Means If You’re Buying Property in Turkey
For anyone purchasing property in Turkey, budgeting for insurance should be a standard part of the ownership cost calculation alongside property tax and any homeowners’ association fees. Given how directly Turkey’s earthquake risk shapes both its insurance regulation and its long-term property values, buyers evaluating a specific city or region should also weigh seismic risk zone alongside price and rental potential — our guide on the cheapest and most expensive cities in Turkey covers the pricing side of that decision in depth, while our guide on Turkish citizenship by investment is worth reading if insurance and ownership compliance is part of a broader relocation or citizenship strategy.
Earthquake Risk Zones and Why They Matter for Insurance Pricing
Turkey’s national seismic hazard map divides the country into risk zones, with the areas along the North Anatolian and East Anatolian fault lines — including Istanbul, Izmir’s wider region, and much of the country’s north and east — classified at higher risk than the southern Mediterranean coast around Antalya and much of the Aegean resort belt. DASK premiums are priced partly on this zoning, so two otherwise identical apartments in different cities can carry meaningfully different annual premiums. Buyers comparing cities purely on purchase price should factor this into the true cost of ownership, since a cheaper property in a higher-risk zone can end up costing more per year to insure than a pricier property in a lower-risk region.
Making a DASK Claim
In the event of earthquake damage, DASK claims are filed directly with DASK or through the insurer that issued the policy, triggering an assessment of structural damage against the policy’s coverage limit. Because the maximum guarantee amount is a hard cap, owners of higher-value properties in expensive districts should be aware that DASK alone may not cover the full rebuild cost of the structure if the property’s value significantly exceeds the current cap of roughly TL 2 million — another reason many owners of higher-value Turkish property also carry supplementary building insurance on top of the compulsory DASK policy.
How Turkey’s System Compares Internationally
Turkey’s DASK model — a low-cost, government-backed compulsory earthquake pool with a capped payout, sitting alongside optional comprehensive home insurance — is a fairly common structure in seismically active countries, and is broadly comparable in concept to earthquake insurance pools in places like California or Japan, though the specific coverage caps, premium levels, and administration differ. What sets Turkey apart is the sheer affordability of the compulsory layer relative to the risk it covers, and the direction of current reform: rather than scaling back mandatory coverage, Turkey is actively expanding it through the move to ZAS, reflecting the lessons drawn from the 2023 earthquakes.
Renewal Timing and Common Mistakes Owners Make
DASK policies run for one year and must be actively renewed — coverage does not continue automatically if a premium payment is missed, and a lapsed policy leaves the property completely uninsured against earthquake damage until it is reinstated. The most common mistake among both local and foreign owners is treating DASK renewal as an afterthought rather than a fixed annual obligation tied to the same calendar date each year. Because the maximum coverage amount and premium bands are revised over the year in line with inflation, a policy renewed on autopilot at last year’s figures can end up underinsured relative to current rebuild costs, so it is worth actively checking the current DASK coverage cap at each renewal rather than assuming last year’s numbers still apply.
A second common mistake is assuming DASK covers more than it does. Owners are sometimes surprised, after a fire, flood, or burglary, to learn that DASK — being earthquake-specific — does not respond to the claim at all, and that they would have needed a separate Konut Sigortası policy for that specific type of loss. Given how affordable comprehensive home insurance is relative to the protection it adds, most experienced owners in Turkey treat the two policies as a package rather than relying on DASK alone.
Insurance for Off-Plan and Newly Handed-Over Properties
Buyers purchasing off-plan property in Turkey typically only need to arrange DASK once the building has been completed and the title deed (Tapu) has been issued in their name, since DASK insures a specific, legally registered structure rather than a project still under construction. During the construction phase, the developer is generally responsible for its own construction-related insurance covering the building site. Once handover occurs and the Tapu transfer is finalised, arranging DASK promptly becomes the new owner’s responsibility, and, as noted earlier, is typically required as part of finalising that same Tapu transfer at the notary.
Insurance Considerations for Rental Properties
Owners who rent out Turkish property, whether long-term or as short-term tourist accommodation, should treat insurance as a bigger priority than an owner-occupier might, given the additional wear, higher occupant turnover, and liability exposure that comes with letting a property to paying guests. Beyond DASK and Konut Sigortası, landlords letting short-term should check whether their policy explicitly covers commercial or short-term rental use, since some standard residential policies exclude or limit coverage for properties let on a short-term commercial basis, requiring a specific rider or a dedicated landlord policy instead.
How the DASK Coverage Cap Has Grown
The pace at which DASK’s maximum coverage amount has been revised upward is itself a useful illustration of how fast Turkish lira-denominated costs have moved in recent years. The cap sat well under TL 1 million as recently as a few years ago, moved into the TL 1.9–2.3 million range through 2025 and into 2026, and continues to be adjusted monthly against the Domestic Producer Price Index rather than left to erode against inflation the way many older fixed-sum policies elsewhere do. For property owners, the practical takeaway is that DASK coverage is designed to keep pace with rebuild costs automatically, but only if the policy is actively renewed each year rather than left to lapse and then reinstated at a much later, higher premium and coverage level.
Insurance Requirements by Property Type
Requirements differ slightly depending on what kind of property is being insured. Standard apartments in registered residential buildings are the most straightforward case and the core use case DASK was designed for. Detached villas and standalone houses are also covered under the same DASK framework, provided the structure is registered residential property with a valid Tapu. Properties within a managed complex or site (site yönetimi) sometimes have DASK and Konut Sigortası arranged collectively through the site management for common areas, alongside each owner’s individual unit policy — worth confirming directly with the management company rather than assuming coverage is automatic. Unregistered or informally built structures, which still exist in some parts of Turkey, generally cannot be insured under DASK at all until they are formally registered, which is one more reason buyers should confirm a property’s Tapu status is fully in order before purchase.
Additional Information and Official Resources
For current coverage limits, premium calculators, and renewal, the official DASK website is the authoritative source: https://www.dask.gov.tr/. Because coverage caps and ZAS implementation details continue to evolve, buyers and owners should treat any third-party figure, including the ones in this guide, as a snapshot that should be reconfirmed against the official source at the point of purchase or renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is earthquake insurance mandatory in Turkey?
Yes. DASK (compulsory earthquake insurance) is legally required for all residential property owners in Turkey, including foreign owners, under Law No. 587.
What does DASK actually cover?
DASK covers physical damage to the structure of a residential building caused by earthquakes and directly related events such as fire, explosion, landslide, or tsunami triggered by an earthquake. It does not cover contents, non-earthquake events, or commercial/unregistered structures.
What is the maximum DASK coverage amount in 2026?
The maximum guarantee amount is roughly TL 2 million as of 2026, automatically adjusted monthly in line with Turkey’s Domestic Producer Price Index. Because it changes monthly, check the current figure on the official DASK website before renewing.
What is ZAS and how is it different from DASK?
ZAS (Zorunlu Afet Sigortası, compulsory disaster insurance) is the planned successor to the current earthquake-only DASK system, expected to be legislated in 2026. It is designed to broaden mandatory coverage beyond earthquakes to a wider range of natural disasters and to extend coverage to the contents of a property, not just the structure.
Do I need DASK to sell or transfer property in Turkey?
In practice, yes. Notaries typically require proof of a valid DASK policy before finalising a Tapu (title deed) transfer, and utility companies generally require it before connecting or transferring electricity and water accounts.
Does DASK cover the contents of my home?
No. DASK covers only the building structure. Contents, along with non-earthquake risks like fire, flooding, and theft, require a separate voluntary Konut Sigortası (comprehensive home insurance) policy.
Can foreigners buy DASK insurance in Turkey?
Yes. Foreign property owners can purchase and renew DASK policies through the DASK website, most Turkish banks, or a licensed local insurance broker, generally using a Turkish tax number and the property’s title deed details.
How much does DASK cost per year?
Annual premiums typically range from roughly TL 150 to TL 1,000-plus, depending on the property’s size, construction type, location, and earthquake risk zone, with higher-risk zones such as Istanbul generally costing more than lower-risk regions.
What happens if my DASK policy lapses?
The property becomes completely uninsured against earthquake damage until the policy is reinstated, and a lapsed policy can also block utility transfers and notarised property transactions, since both typically require proof of current coverage.
Does DASK cover commercial property?
No. DASK specifically covers residential structures within municipal boundaries. Commercial and unregistered structures fall outside its scope and require separate commercial property insurance.
Will ZAS replace DASK entirely?
ZAS is designed as an expansion and successor to the current ZDS/DASK earthquake-only model, broadening coverage to more disaster types and to property contents, rather than an unrelated new system. Exact implementation details are still being finalised as the legislation progresses through 2026.
Is DASK enough insurance on its own?
For many owners, no. DASK protects only the building structure against earthquake-related damage up to a capped amount. Most experienced owners pair it with a voluntary Konut Sigortası policy to cover contents, fire, flooding, theft, and neighbour liability, which DASK does not address.
Do I need different insurance if I rent my property short-term?
Potentially, yes. Some standard residential Konut Sigortası policies exclude or limit coverage for short-term commercial rental use, so landlords letting a property on platforms like Airbnb should confirm their policy explicitly covers that use case, or arrange a dedicated landlord policy instead.
