How to Renew Your DASK Policy and What Happens When Your Address Changes

DASK is Turkey’s compulsory earthquake insurance for homes with a title deed (tapu), based on Law No. 6305 on Disaster Insurance. A valid DASK policy is requested at the land registry and when opening electricity and water subscriptions. Yet many homeowners take out a policy once and then forget about it. They only discover that it has expired, or that the address details are wrong, during some formal procedure or, worse, after an earthquake. For foreign owners who may spend part of the year abroad, this is an easy thing to miss. This guide explains how to renew DASK and what to do when your address changes. For the basics, see our guide what is DASK compulsory earthquake insurance.

Why DASK must be renewed on time

A DASK policy is a contract for a fixed term; when it expires, the protection ends. Building damage from an earthquake that happens while the policy has lapsed is not paid under DASK. And if earthquake cover has been added to your home insurance, most insurers require a valid DASK policy for that cover. In other words, a lapsed DASK policy can also affect the earthquake protection in your home insurance.

Because a valid policy is requested for utility and land registry procedures, an expired DASK policy can also hold up everyday tasks.

Renewal step by step

1. Find the end date: check the end date shown on your policy and put it in your calendar.
2. Have the current policy number ready: the previous policy details speed up renewal.
3. Review the details: check that the address, construction type, gross square metres and floor details are correct.
4. Contact your agent: DASK policies are issued through authorised insurers and their agents. Your agent can start the renewal on your behalf.
5. Check the new policy: confirm that the details on the new policy are correct and keep a copy.

Working with an agent who tracks renewal reminders is the most practical way to stop a policy from expiring unnoticed.

Why the policy details matter

The details on a DASK policy affect both the premium and the assessment of a claim. These in particular must be correct:

• Address and address code: to identify the home correctly, the address must match the code in the national address system.
• Construction type: the type of structure, such as reinforced concrete or masonry, must be selected correctly.
• Gross square metres: should reflect the real size of the home.
• Year of construction and number of floors: describe the building’s general features.
• Insured person’s details: the owner details on the policy must be current. For a foreign owner, this usually means the foreign ID number (Yabancı Kimlik No) or passport details used on the title deed.

A policy issued with wrong details can cause problems at claim time, so renewal is a good opportunity to check them.

What happens when your address changes?

An address change means different things in different situations. The key point is that a DASK policy is linked to the home, not to the person.

If you have moved to another home

If your new home has a title deed and you are the owner, it needs its own DASK policy. The policy for your old home does not move with you. If you have let out your old home, you must keep renewing its DASK policy.

If you have sold the home

A DASK policy is requested at the land registry during the sale. Ask your agent how the policy should be arranged in the new owner’s name after the sale, so that the home is not left unprotected.

If the street name or number has changed

When the municipality changes an avenue, street or door number, make sure the address on the policy matches the current address record. If it does not, your agent can arrange a correction.

Updating after renovation

If you have carried out work that changes the floor area, such as adding a roof floor or joining two flats, update the details on your DASK policy. Outdated details can cause problems at claim time. Remember to make the same update to the building value in your home insurance.

Updates are not limited to floor area. If the building has been strengthened, the number of floors has changed or the use of the home is different, these details should also be reflected correctly. A policy with current, accurate details helps the damage assessment after an earthquake run faster and more smoothly.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the policy renews automatically
• Not keeping track of DASK for a home you let out
• Not updating the floor area after renovation
• Not keeping a copy of the policy
• Thinking DASK and home insurance are the same thing

Most of these mistakes are easy to avoid with a little organisation. Owners with more than one home benefit from keeping each policy number, end date and address in a single list. Checking the DASK status when tenants change prevents delays in the new tenant’s utility subscriptions. For inherited or jointly owned homes, check that the insured details on the policy match the title deed.

Remember that DASK protects only the building. Renewal is also a good moment to review your home insurance and consider whether the earthquake cover is enough for your contents and any building value above the DASK limit.

For DASK procedures, visit our DASK earthquake insurance page. As Ailenizin Sigortacısı, we have guided clients through DASK and home insurance since 1996. For a renewal or address update, call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp; our team can help you in English.