What Does Home Insurance Cover in Turkey?

1. Main Covers of Home Insurance

At the core of every home insurance policy are three main covers from the General Conditions for Fire Insurance. Home package policies add many extras on top of these as standard.

What is fire cover in home insurance?

It pays for damage to the building and your belongings from a fire in your home. Damage caused by putting out the fire, such as water used by the fire brigade or broken doors and windows, is also covered.

What is lightning cover?

It pays for damage caused directly to the building and contents by lightning striking your home or nearby.

What is explosion cover?

It pays for damage to the building and contents from sudden explosions of natural gas, gas cylinders, boilers and similar sources.

What does home insurance not cover?

• Damage from war, rebellion and military measures
• Nuclear and radioactive damage
• Actions of public authorities such as confiscation or demolition
• Scorch marks from stoves or irons that do not turn into a fire, and goods spoiling due to their own defect
• Damage to an appliance itself from an electrical short circuit that does not cause a fire (unless there is a separate cover)
• Damage due to poor maintenance, ageing and wear

Valuables such as jewellery, cash and works of art are excluded from most policies, or must be declared separately and are insured with a limited cap.

2. Home Insurance Extras

It is the extras that make home insurance really useful. Most insurers offer them as a package, but scope and limits vary from insurer to insurer. When we compare quotes, we put the extras side by side one by one.

What is earthquake cover in home insurance?

It covers building damage above the amount DASK pays, and damage to contents, which DASK does not cover at all. Earthquake cover usually has an excess (a part of the loss you bear) and co-insurance (you share the loss at a set percentage); always check these rates in your policy.

What are flood and internal water damage covers?

Flood cover pays for damage from water coming from outside, such as heavy rain, overflow or a stream bursting its banks. Internal water cover pays for damage from water, heating and boiler pipes inside the home bursting, overflowing or leaking. Pipes freezing and bursting in winter is one of the most common internal water claims.

What is theft cover in home insurance?

It pays for belongings stolen after a forced entry into your home and for damage to doors, windows and locks during the burglary. Most policies require signs of forced entry on a door or window, and the incident must be reported to the police. A separate limit applies to valuables.

What are storm, hail and snow weight covers?

They pay for storm damage to the roof, windows and facade, hail damage, and collapse or damage caused by the weight of snow on the roof. Landslide, vehicle impact and smoke damage are usually offered together with this group of extras.

What is glass breakage cover?

It pays for breakage of fixed glass such as windows, door glass, display windows and shower enclosures. The labour to refit the broken glass is also covered.

What are neighbour and tenant liability covers?

They pay for damage your home causes to others. The typical example is a water leak in your flat damaging the ceiling of your downstairs neighbour; in that case your neighbour’s loss is paid from neighbour liability cover. For tenants, tenant liability cover protects their responsibility to the landlord for damage they cause to the rented home.

What are loss of rent and temporary accommodation covers?

If the home becomes uninhabitable after damage, they pay, for a set period and limit, the cost of staying elsewhere during repairs (temporary accommodation) or the rent you cannot collect if the home is rented out (loss of rent). Moving costs can also be covered with change-of-residence cover.

What is GLKHH and terrorism cover?

It pays for damage to your home during strikes, lockouts, riots, civil commotion, malicious acts and terrorist events.

Other extras

• Electronic devices: TVs, computers and similar devices damaged by power surges or short circuits
• Debris removal: the cost of removing and clearing debris after a loss
• Insulation: painting, plastering and damp removal after water damage
• Personal accident: cover for death and permanent disability from accidents at home
• Legal protection: lawyer and court costs in disputes about your home

What home assistance services are there?

Many home policies include assistance services that send a tradesperson to your home in an emergency. Scope and number of uses vary by insurer:

• A locksmith, plumber, electrician or glazier sent to your home
• At some insurers, a free boiler service, air conditioner service or radiator cleaning once a year
• Arranging a hotel or accommodation if the home becomes uninhabitable

3. Building and Contents Insurance

Home insurance protects two separate values: the building (walls, roof, fixed installations, built-in cupboards, kitchen worktops and other parts attached to the building) and the contents (furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes — everything movable). Which of these can be insured depends on who takes out the policy.

Can tenants get home insurance?

Yes. Tenants insure their own belongings, not the building. Together with tenant liability cover, both the tenant’s belongings and their responsibilities to the landlord are protected. Insuring the building is the owner’s job.

How is the building sum insured set?

The building value is not the price the home would sell for, but the cost of rebuilding it after damage; the land value is not included. This cost is calculated from the floor area and the type of construction. Using the price on the title deed or property websites can lead you to insure your building for too much or too little.

How is the contents sum insured set?

The contents value is the total amount needed to buy all the belongings in the home again today. Valuables (jewellery, watches, works of art) are usually declared separately and insured with a limited cap.

What is underinsurance and why does it matter?

If the sum insured is below the real value, this is called underinsurance, and claims are reduced in the same proportion. For example, if something worth 2,000,000 TL is insured for 1,000,000 TL, only half of a 100,000 TL loss, i.e. 50,000 TL, is paid. When prices change quickly, it is important to update the sum every year and check whether the policy has inflation protection.

4. Home Insurance and DASK

Compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) and home insurance are often confused, but one does not replace the other; they complement each other.

Do I need DASK to get home insurance?

Yes. By law, fire or home insurance cannot be issued for a home without a valid DASK policy. So DASK is bought first, then home insurance. You can get your DASK policy from us too.

Why do I need home insurance if I have DASK?

DASK protects only against earthquakes and only the building, up to the maximum set by the state. Your belongings, building damage above the DASK limit, and risks such as fire, flooding and theft can only be covered with home insurance.

5. Home Insurance Price and Claims

Home insurance has a very low premium compared with the value of your home. The main factors that set the price and the steps to follow after a loss are below.

How is the price of home insurance set?

• The province, district and earthquake risk of the home’s location
• Floor area and the sums insured you choose for building and contents
• Type of construction (reinforced concrete, masonry, etc.) and the age of the building
• The floor the home is on (ground and basement floors have a higher flood and theft risk)
• Security measures such as an alarm, steel door or a gated complex with security
• The extras, excesses and limits you choose

What should you do after damage to your home?

• First make sure everyone is safe; call the fire brigade, 112 or the police if needed.
• Take reasonable steps to stop the damage getting worse (for example, turn off the water or electricity).
• Take photos and videos before repairing anything or clearing debris.
• In a burglary, report it to the police at once and get a report.
• Report the loss to the insurer or to us without delay; we will follow the process on your behalf.

How is a claim paid?

The insurer appoints a loss adjuster to inspect the damage. The adjuster determines the cause and amount of the loss; once the required documents (reports, invoices, photos) are complete, compensation is paid within the sum insured and cover limits. Sending complete documents quickly speeds up payment.

6. Frequently Asked Questions About Home Insurance