Compulsory earthquake insurance policies for residential property will automatically terminate upon the transfer of title of the sold property, under a new regulation issued by the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool (DASK).
The new rule will take effect from 5 September 2026.
Under the new regulation, the practice of transferring an existing DASK policy to a buyer via an endorsement document is completely abolished. Sellers will receive a pro-rata premium refund for any unexpired portion of their policy, while buyers must purchase a brand-new policy in their own name before completing the transaction.
Land registry offices will no longer accept existing insurance policies or transfer endorsements to finalise a sale. Property buyers planning transactions after 4 September 2026 are urged to secure their new insurance in advance to avoid delays at the registry.
Inheritance cases will be exempt
Transfers of ownership other than via sales (e.g., inheritance) are excluded from this automatic cancellation. In cases such as inheritance, the existing DASK policy will remain valid. However, the new owner must notify the relevant insurance company within 15 days of learning of the transfer. The insurance company will then be obligated to issue an endorsement to the new owner within 24 hours of this notification.
Authorities urge citizens that, to avoid delays in property transactions after 4 September 2026, those planning to buy a house must obtain mandatory earthquake insurance in their own name before the transaction.