DASK is Turkey's compulsory annual earthquake insurance for homes (zorunlu deprem sigortası). Policies are issued within the system of the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (Doğal Afet Sigortaları Kurumu), and without a valid policy you cannot complete a sale at the land registry or connect utilities.
Why it is compulsory
Turkey lies in a seismically active region. The DASK scheme was set up after the 1999 earthquake, and the obligation is now set out in Law No. 6305 on disaster insurance. The aim is for every residential building to have basic cover that does not depend on the state budget.
What the policy covers
DASK covers damage to the building itself — the structure, walls and floors — caused by an earthquake, as well as fire, explosion, landslide and tsunami triggered by one. It does not cover furniture, appliances or personal belongings; for those you need voluntary home insurance (konut sigortası).
The cover provided by DASK is capped, so for higher-value properties additional insurance is often worth considering.
How much DASK costs
The premium depends on three factors:
- the floor area of the flat or house;
- the location, i.e. the seismic risk zone;
- the type of building construction.
The insurer calculates the exact premium when the policy is issued. The tariff is the same across all companies selling DASK, so service may differ but the base price of the policy does not.
Taking out and renewing a policy
- Policies are sold by insurance companies and agents authorised for DASK, and through banks.
- You will need the property's address code (UAVT), assigned during numarataj, and the owner's details.
- A policy runs for one year and must be renewed annually; a reminder or automatic renewal helps.
When you cannot do without it
- registering a sale at the land registry — a valid policy on the property is required;
- signing water and electricity contracts;
- taking out a mortgage.
Common mistakes
- Not checking the policy after completion. Make sure it is valid and shows your details, as renewing it is now your responsibility.
- Letting it lapse while living abroad. An expired policy causes problems when you sell or transfer utility accounts.
- Treating DASK as full home insurance. It does not protect your belongings or appliances.
- Assuming a tenant will take out the policy. Arranging and renewing it is the owner's responsibility.
How we help
As part of our purchase support, we check the DASK policy on the property, help you take out a new one before the title deed is registered and then get water and electricity connected. The full process is in our guide on how to buy a flat in Alanya.