Tenants and DASK in Istanbul: Who Buys It and How Tenants Protect Themselves

One of the most common questions from people renting in Sarıyer, Maslak or Levent is: does this flat have DASK, or do I need to buy it? DASK, Turkey’s compulsory earthquake insurance, is compulsory for homes with a title deed under Law No. 6305 and protects the building itself. What tenants often miss is that DASK does not protect a tenant’s belongings. This guide explains what DASK means for tenants, who arranges it, and how tenants can protect themselves against earthquake losses. We covered the general split of insurance between tenant and landlord in another article; here we focus only on earthquakes and DASK.

Who buys DASK?

DASK is attached to the property. The legal obligation lies mainly with the owner, and the owner’s policy is checked at the land registry. In practice there are cases where a tenant has a policy issued, for example when a valid policy is requested to open an electricity or water subscription and the landlord cannot be reached. Even then, the policy protects the building and the payment is made for building damage.

How the policyholder and insured are written on the policy matters. If you are thinking of arranging DASK as a tenant, have your agent confirm what it means for you, and agree it with your landlord in writing.

Who receives the payment?

Because DASK pays for damage to the building, the person entitled to it is generally the owner. Even if the tenant paid the premium, the collapsed wall or cracked column belongs to the owner. The real question for a tenant is who pays for their own losses when the flat becomes uninhabitable. That is where DASK stops and the tenant’s own insurance matters.

The tenant’s real risk: belongings and extra costs

• Damage to belongings: furniture, appliances, laptops, phones, clothing.
• Temporary accommodation: hotel or short-term rent if the home cannot be used.
• Moving costs: moving and storing belongings somewhere safe.
• Liability to neighbours: damage to others caused by an incident in your flat, depending on the policy.

None of these is part of DASK. However complete the landlord’s DASK policy is, your sofa and your work laptop are outside it. A tenant can insure belongings with a home insurance policy in their own name and add earthquake cover. Whether extras such as loss of rent or temporary accommodation are included depends on the insurer and package. See our home insurance page for options.

A step-by-step plan for tenants

1. Ask the landlord about DASK: when signing the lease, ask whether there is a valid policy and for the policy number.
2. Verify it: check validity and the address on the official lookup screen or through your agent.
3. Estimate your belongings: make a rough list and keep invoices for valuable devices.
4. Buy home insurance: insure your belongings in your name and add earthquake cover.
5. Put it in the lease: state that DASK and building insurance are the landlord’s, and contents insurance the tenant’s.

What if the landlord has no DASK?

If the landlord’s policy is missing or expired, building damage is not paid by DASK. Repairs may be delayed, and you may not be able to move back in. Politely reminding your landlord and noting the renewal date in your own calendar helps both of you. You can point your landlord to our DASK earthquake insurance page for renewal.

Expats, company flats and furnished rentals

Maslak is known for its business centres and office towers, so many homes in Sarıyer are rented by companies or by international employees. The rule stays the same: DASK for the building is the owner’s responsibility; contents insurance is the tenant’s choice. In company flats, agree in advance whether the company or the employee insures the contents.

Furnished rentals are slightly different. If the furniture and appliances belong to the landlord, insuring them is usually the landlord’s matter, and the tenant insures only what they brought. An inventory attached to the lease avoids disputes later.

Foreign tenants can generally buy home insurance with their foreign ID number (Yabancı Kimlik No) and address details; ask your agent which documents are needed.

Ailenizin Sigortacısı has served Maslak since 1996 and compares offers from more than one insurer. To protect your belongings against earthquake damage, call +90 530 375 89 61 or send a WhatsApp message for English-speaking support.