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Real Estate

DASK (Mandatory Earthquake Insurance)

Legally mandatory earthquake insurance for building-based properties. Governed by Decree-Law 587. Required for title transactions and utility subscriptions.

**DASK (Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool, *Doğal Afet Sigortaları Kurumu*) Compulsory Earthquake Insurance was established under Decree-Law 587 (1999) and reinforced by Disaster Insurance Law 6305** (2012). It was created after the 1999 Marmara Earthquake to spread earthquake risk between the state and individual homeowners.

Scope: Residential properties within municipal boundaries; independent units under Condominium Law 634; commercial units inside residential buildings; state-built disaster housing.

Out of scope: Public housing, rural village buildings, entirely commercial/industrial buildings, structures without a proper project or engineering certification, buildings ordered demolished by the competent authority.

Premium calculation: Insured value = m² × building-type unit cost (January 2026: reinforced concrete TRY 9,884/m², other types TRY 6,590/m² — updated monthly via PPI). Tariff applies 7 earthquake risk groups × 2 building types = 14 rate points. In 2026, the minimum premium ranges from ~TRY 2,067 (group 1, reinforced concrete) to ~TRY 535 (group 7, other). Pre-2000 buildings and 8+ storeys carry premium surcharges; 3-storey-or-lower buildings receive a discount.

Coverage and deductible: Covers earthquake damage plus quake-induced fire, explosion, tsunami and landslide. A 2% deductible applies per loss (DASK pays amounts above the deductible). Debris removal, loss of rent, contents, life loss are excluded — an optional home insurance policy covers these.

Mandatory points: Title transactions (purchase/sale), electricity/water subscription, mortgage applications all check for DASK. No transaction can proceed without it. Policy validity is 1 year and requires annual renewal; renewal within 30 days of expiry receives a discount.

Examples

  • 1.100 m² reinforced concrete apartment in Beşiktaş, İstanbul, risk group 2 → Insured TRY 988,400; annual premium roughly TRY 1,800 (check current tariff).
  • 2.An owner arrived at the title appointment without DASK → Land Registry refused the transaction; the owner obtained DASK from an agent and returned.
  • 3.After an earthquake, TRY 200,000 damage → 2% deductible × insured value (e.g. TRY 1,000,000 × 2% = TRY 20,000) → DASK pays TRY 180,000, the owner covers TRY 20,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

I live in a village — do I need DASK?expand_more
No. Buildings in rural village areas, owned by persons registered as village residents, are **excluded from compulsory DASK**. Optional earthquake insurance is still available. Second homes used as summer houses in villages may fall under the compulsory regime.
What happens if I don't buy DASK?expand_more
Title transactions (purchase/sale, mortgage) and utility subscriptions are refused without DASK. Under Law 6305, owning a property in scope without DASK is a legal violation, and you may be excluded from state aid. After an earthquake, damage to an uninsured building is not compensated by the Ministry.
Is DASK expensive? What drives the premium?expand_more
Premium depends on three factors: (1) **Building type** — reinforced concrete > other, (2) **Earthquake risk group** — lower-numbered groups pay more (İstanbul is largely group 1-2), (3) **Square metres** — bigger units pay more. Pre-2000 buildings face surcharges; 3-storey-or-lower buildings receive discounts. Example: 100 m² reinforced concrete residence in İstanbul is typically TRY 1,500–2,500 annually.
How do I check my DASK policy?expand_more
Via **e-Government** 'DASK Policy Query' service, the **DASK website** (dask.gov.tr), or your agent's / insurance company's online portal. Query by Turkish ID number + address, or by policy number. Your agent typically sends SMS/email reminders before renewal.

Related Terms

Condominium OwnershipTitle Registration

Sources

  • • Decree-Law 587 on Compulsory Earthquake Insurance (27.12.1999)
  • • Disaster Insurance Law 6305 (09.05.2012)
  • • Compulsory Earthquake Insurance Tariff Communiqué (Official Gazette 32834 dated 07.03.2025)
  • • DASK official site (dask.gov.tr) 2026 current tariff

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Last updated: 2026-04-24