What is Home Insurance, How Much Does It Cost, and What Does It Cover?

Home insurance is an optional type of insurance that secures the home against risks such as fire, theft, flood, and internal water damage.

Unlike DASK, it covers both the building and, if requested, the household goods. The annual premium varies depending on the square footage of the house, the province where it is located, and the selected coverage package.

What Does Home Insurance Do?

Home insurance transfers the repair cost of damage occurring in the house to the insurance company.

Fire, pipe bursts, theft, glass breakage, and earthquake in some packages fall under this scope. In short-term rental properties, since the guest turnover rate is high, the frequency of small accidents also increases. In properties managed by Homeyday, the post-damage closing time for home-insured properties is shorter, because the repair cost is invoiced to the insurance company.

Are Home Insurance and DASK the Same Thing?

No. DASK is a compulsory insurance that only covers earthquakes, whereas home insurance is optional and has a much wider scope of risk coverage.

DASK is compulsory for every dwelling registered in the land registry pursuant to the Catastrophe Insurance Law No. 6305. It is requested during title deed, electricity-water subscription, and housing loan transactions.

What Is the Maximum Coverage Amount of DASK?

The maximum coverage amount of DASK was determined as 2,095,462 TL as of January under the 2026 tariff.

This figure is updated every month at the PPI rate, so it is necessary to confirm the current amount from the tariff on the date the policy is issued. If the market value of the house is above this amount, additional earthquake coverage is added to the home insurance to cover the difference.

How Much Does Home Insurance Cost?

The price of home insurance is not tied to a fixed tariff; giving a single figure would be misleading.

Three elements determine the price: the value of the building and goods declared as the insurance sum, the selected additional coverages, and the earthquake risk zone of the property. To see the most accurate figure, it is necessary to obtain quotes from multiple insurance companies with the same scope of coverage.

Why Is Home Insurance Cheaper in Antalya?

Since Antalya is located in the 2nd and 3rd earthquake risk zones, both DASK and home insurance premiums are generally lower compared to Istanbul and Izmir.

The earthquake risk zone is one of the three main components used in premium calculation. As the zone number decreases (approaches 1), the premium increases; as it increases (approaches 5), the premium decreases.

How Much Does Housing Loan Life Insurance Cost?

Housing loan life insurance is a different product from home insurance and is calculated based on the loan amount, maturity, and the age of the borrower.

Banks may require life insurance for loan approval, but consumers do not have to purchase this policy from the bank. A quote from a different insurance company can be obtained and submitted to the bank.

What Is the Difference in Life Insurance Between 5-Year and 10-Year Loans?

In a 10-year loan, the risk period doubles compared to a 5-year loan, so the total premium cost also rises.

However, since banks usually make calculations based on reducing balance, the difference on an annual basis is not always this sharp. Classic home insurance and housing loan life insurance should not be confused; they cover different risks: one covers the death of the borrower, the other physical damage to the house.

How to Choose the Best Home Insurance?

The best home insurance is not the lowest priced policy, but the policy with the coverage scope suitable for the way the home is used.

For a short-term rental property, theft, guest-caused damage, and internal water damage coverages are critical. For an empty summer house, on the other hand, it is necessary to look at how long-term vacancy conditions are defined in the policy.

What Should Be Considered When Buying Home Insurance?

When comparing quotes, attention should be paid to three points: whether the sum insured reflects the current reconstruction cost, the deductible rates, and which types of damage are on the exclusion list.

Working with transparent companies registered with the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency during the claim payment process ensures that the policy does not just remain on paper.

What Does Home Insurance Cover?

The standard package of home insurance includes fire, theft, internal water damage, flood, and glass breakage.

Earthquake is outside the standard package unless added as a separate coverage. It must be checked whether an earthquake coverage that complements DASK is included in the policy.

Under Which Circumstances Does Home Insurance Not Pay?

Wear and tear resulting from lack of maintenance, intentional damage, and situations such as war or terrorism are excluded from standard policies.

If the declared sum insured remains below the actual reconstruction cost, the under-insurance provision is applied at the time of damage, and the compensation is proportionally reduced. This is the most common surprise payment deduction encountered by property owners.

Can Home Insurance Be Purchased for a House Rented Out as Airbnb?

Yes, but it must be declared to the insurance company during application that the house is used as a short-term rental.

If this declaration is not made, the insurance company may refuse payment in case of guest-caused damage. Some insurance companies also require a declaration of commercial use for short-term rental properties.

How to Buy Home Insurance?

Home insurance can be purchased within a few minutes through banks, insurance companies, and online comparison platforms.

Accurately declaring how the house is used (long-term rental, short-term rental, or vacant summer house) when getting a quote directly affects the payment process at the time of damage.

Where to Query Home Insurance?

Policy details can be queried via the customer service line of the relevant insurance company or, for some companies, through e-Government integration.

DASK policies, on the other hand, are viewed directly through e-Government.

How to Cancel Home Insurance?

Cancellation can be made without deduction within the right of withdrawal period, which is usually 15 days from the start of the policy.

For policies cancelled outside this period, a partial premium refund is applied based on the number of remaining days. Home insurance is issued annually and does not automatically renew at the end of the term.

Where to Complain About Home Insurance?

In case of dispute, an application is first made to the customer service of the insurance company; if no solution can be found, the complaint is forwarded to the Insurance Arbitration Commission or the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency.

Having the policy number and claim file number ready during the complaint process speeds up the procedure.

Why Should I Buy Home Insurance?

Home insurance eliminates the highest cost damage scenarios of the house in return for a low annual premium.

The cost of repair after a fire or water flood is, most of the time, many times higher than the total premium paid over the years. This risk calculation makes home insurance almost mandatory in practice, although it is optional.

There is an additional reason for property owners operating short-term rental homes. In a property evaluated under Antalya Airbnb management, as the guest turnover rate increases, the possibility of small accidents also increases; home insurance turns this operational risk into a professional security.

As Homeyday, we recommend completing the home insurance immediately after applying for the tourism residence permit. Both together secure the property both legally and financially.

Conclusion

Home insurance covers risks that DASK does not cover and transfers the property owner's greatest financial exposure in return for a low premium. Choosing the right policy requires finding the scope of coverage suitable for the way the home is used, not the cheapest offer.

If you are looking for professional support on property management and short-term rentals in Antalya, Homeyday, as an Antalya real estate company, stands by property owners from insurance processes to operational management.