In Turkey, there are two completely different levels of property insurance.
The first is DASK (Zorunlu Deprem Sigortası) — the mandatory earthquake insurance policy. It covers the structural elements of a building against damage directly caused by earthquakes and certain related events.
The second is Konut Sigortası — voluntary home insurance.
It is Konut Sigortası that protects homeowners against most everyday risks: a burst pipe, water damage to a neighbor’s apartment, fire, broken glass, theft, or even temporary loss of use of the property.
The biggest mistake many property owners make in Turkey is assuming that having DASK means their home is fully insured.
It doesn’t.
DASK and Konut Sigortası complement each other—they do not replace one another.
What Is Konut Sigortası?
Konut Sigortası is a voluntary home insurance policy.
The property owner chooses:
- the insurance company;
- the insured value of the building;
- the value of interior finishes;
- the value of furniture and household appliances;
- the list of insured risks;
- liability limits;
- the deductible (excess);
- additional services and coverage.
As a result, no two Konut Sigortası policies are exactly alike.
One homeowner may purchase a basic policy for just a few thousand Turkish lira.
Another may insure a luxury apartment, designer renovations, expensive furniture, electronics, third-party liability, loss of rental income, and temporary accommodation expenses.
The price and level of protection can vary significantly.
What Can Be Insured?
Generally, coverage is divided into three categories.
1. The Building (Bina)
This includes:
- walls;
- floors and ceilings;
- engineering systems;
- doors;
- windows;
- built-in fixtures;
- and other permanent structural components.
2. Personal Property (Eşya)
This covers:
- furniture;
- household appliances;
- electronics;
- household goods;
- and other movable property inside the home.
3. Third-Party Liability (Mali Sorumluluk)
For example, a pipe bursts in your apartment.
The apartment below is flooded.
If both the relevant risk and third-party liability coverage are included in your policy, the insurance company may compensate not only for damage to your own apartment but also for damage caused to your neighbors—up to the policy limits.
For apartment buildings, this is one of the most valuable features of voluntary home insurance.
What Risks Can Voluntary Home Insurance Cover?
The exact coverage depends on the insurer and the policy selected.
Typical coverage may include:
- fire, lightning, and explosion;
- burst pipes and internal plumbing failures;
- water damage and flooding;
- storms, hail, snow load, and other natural events;
- burglary;
- damage to doors, windows, and locks during attempted break-ins;
- broken glass;
- damage to electronic equipment caused by power surges;
- third-party liability;
- temporary accommodation expenses;
- loss of rental income;
- debris removal costs;
- legal assistance;
- emergency home assistance services.
However, just because a particular risk appears in a marketing brochure does not automatically mean every type of damage will be covered.
Always read the policy wording, exclusions, coverage limits, and special conditions.
A Common Example: Water Damage
Imagine the apartment above yours develops a leak.
The water damages your ceiling, walls, flooring, furniture, and appliances.
If your apartment is insured, you notify the insurance company.
A claims file (hasar dosyası) is opened.
The insurer may appoint a loss adjuster (eksper).
The adjuster determines:
- the cause of the damage;
- where the damage originated;
- the extent of the loss;
- repair costs;
- whether the event is covered under the policy.
After reviewing all documentation, the insurer decides whether compensation will be paid.
This is an important distinction.
The insurance company does not compensate simply because damage exists.
It compensates only for losses covered under the specific terms of the insurance contract.
For example, if the damage resulted from a sudden burst pipe, it may qualify as an insured event.
If water seeped into the property over many months due to poor maintenance, deteriorated plumbing, or inadequate waterproofing, the claim may be denied.
What If You Flood Your Neighbors?
Now imagine the opposite situation.
A pipe bursts in your apartment.
Three apartments below are damaged.
The total loss amounts to hundreds of thousands of Turkish lira.
DASK will not help.
However, a Konut Sigortası policy that includes third-party liability coverage may compensate your neighbors for their losses up to the insured limit.
That’s why it’s important not to focus solely on insuring your own apartment.
Make sure your policy includes 3. Şahıs Mali Sorumluluk (third-party liability coverage).
This is especially important in luxury residential developments.
A leak from a €150,000 apartment could easily damage a €1 million apartment below.
Water, after all, doesn’t check property values before it flows.
Insuring Interior Finishes
This is one of the most underestimated aspects of home insurance.
The market value of a property is not the same as the cost of restoring it.
Imagine an apartment worth €300,000.
Inside, it contains:
- a premium kitchen;
- hardwood flooring;
- air-conditioning systems;
- custom built-in furniture;
- luxury bathroom fixtures;
- designer lighting;
- decorative wall panels.
Following a major fire or flood, restoring these finishes could cost millions of Turkish lira.
That’s why determining the correct insured value is essential.
Underestimating the insured value can lead to eksik sigorta (underinsurance).
In that case, compensation may be significantly lower than the actual loss.
Insuring Personal Belongings
You can also insure Eşya—your household contents.
However, there are important considerations.
High-value jewelry, watches, works of art, collections, antiques, and other valuables may require separate declaration, appraisal, or additional coverage limits.
If your apartment contains valuable personal property, a standard policy may not provide sufficient protection.
Can a Rental Property Be Insured?
Yes.
However, it’s essential to accurately inform the insurer how the property is used.
The property may be:
- your primary residence;
- a second home;
- rented on a long-term basis;
- used for short-term holiday rentals;
- vacant for much of the year.
Each scenario involves different risks.
Properties used for short-term rentals require particular attention, as standard homeowner policies may contain exclusions or limitations for commercial use.
Loss of Rental Income
For property investors, one valuable optional coverage is Kira Kaybı (Loss of Rental Income).
Imagine your apartment rents for 50,000 TL per month.
A fire occurs.
Repairs take four months.
You lose 200,000 TL in rental income.
If this coverage is included in your policy, the insurance company may reimburse the lost rent, subject to the policy’s limits and conditions.
For investment properties, this option deserves careful consideration.
Temporary Accommodation Expenses
If your home becomes uninhabitable after an insured event, some policies may reimburse expenses such as:
- hotel accommodation;
- temporary rental housing;
- moving costs;
- storage of personal belongings.
Again, reimbursement is subject to the limits and conditions of the individual policy.
What Is Usually NOT Covered?
Standard exclusions may include:
- normal wear and tear;
- corrosion;
- mold and mildew;
- long-term water leaks;
- lack of maintenance;
- intentional damage;
- unauthorized structural alterations;
- construction defects;
- pre-existing damage;
- certain categories of valuables;
- property used for commercial purposes.
The exact list of exclusions depends on the insurer and the policy wording.
Who Can Purchase Home Insurance?
The property owner can purchase the policy.
In some situations, tenants may also have an insurable interest.
For example, a tenant may insure:
- personal belongings inside the apartment;
- their own third-party liability.
If the property is financed with a mortgage, the bank may also require additional property insurance.
How Is the Premium Calculated?
The cost of Konut Sigortası depends on many factors, including:
- property location;
- building type;
- age of the building;
- floor area;
- reconstruction value;
- value of personal belongings;
- floor level;
- how the property is used;
- selected risks;
- insurance limits;
- deductible;
- previous claims history.
That’s why saying, “Home insurance costs 3,000 or 5,000 TL per year” doesn’t really mean much.
The real question is:
Exactly what is insured—and for how much?
The cost of voluntary home insurance depends entirely on the property’s characteristics and the coverage selected.
Comparing policies solely by annual premium is misleading.
What Should You Do If a Loss Occurs?
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is repairing the damage, throwing away damaged items, repainting walls—and only then contacting the insurance company.
The correct sequence is:
- Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
- Photograph and video the damage.
- Identify and document the source of the damage.
- Notify the building management (apartman/site yönetimi).
- Obtain written documentation regarding the incident.
- Notify the insurance company immediately.
- Open a hasar dosyası (claims file).
- Preserve damaged property until it can be inspected, whenever possible and safe.
- Keep invoices, receipts, contracts, and ownership documents.
- Do not begin major repairs until the insurer or adjuster has inspected the damage, unless emergency repairs are necessary to prevent further loss.
Documents That May Be Required
Depending on the nature of the claim, the insurance company may request:
- TAPU (Title Deed);
- insurance policy;
- DASK policy;
- passport or Turkish ID (Kimlik);
- bank account details;
- photographs and videos;
- incident report from the building management;
- technical inspection report;
- repair invoices;
- documents proving ownership of damaged property;
- police report (for theft);
- fire department report (for fire claims).
