
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance is a type of insurance that requires homeowners to purchase earthquake coverage as a condition of their mortgage.
In many countries, including New Zealand, earthquake insurance is mandatory for homeowners. This means that if you're buying a home, you'll need to factor in the cost of earthquake insurance as part of your mortgage.
The cost of compulsory earthquake insurance varies depending on the location and value of the property. In some areas, the cost can be as high as 1% of the property's value annually.
Homeowners are typically required to purchase earthquake insurance through a government-approved provider, and the policy must meet certain minimum standards to be considered compulsory.
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What is TCIP?
TCIP stands for the Turkey Catastrophe Insurance Pool, a government-backed insurance program that provides financial protection to homeowners and businesses against earthquake damage.
In Turkey, earthquakes are a significant threat, and TCIP aims to mitigate the financial burden on citizens and the government.
TCIP was established in 2018 to address the country's high earthquake risk and lack of earthquake insurance coverage.
The program requires homeowners and businesses to purchase earthquake insurance as part of their property insurance policies.
Purpose and Coverage
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance is a guarantee system to cover material losses caused by an earthquake in your building, ensuring life can continue at basic standards prior to the earthquake.
The main objectives of this system are to assure all housing under coverage against earthquakes with payable premiums, ensure risk sharing within the country, and distribute financial liability to international reinsurance and capital markets.
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance helps reduce the financial burden of the State resulting from earthquakes, especially from the construction of disaster houses after the earthquake, and prevents the risk of additional taxes from being reflected to citizens.
Here are the building sections under coverage with Compulsory Earthquake Insurance:
- Foundations
- Main walls
- Common walls separating independent sections
- Garden walls
- Retaining walls
- Ceilings and floors
- Stairs
- Elevators
- Landings
- Hallways
- Roofs
- Chimneys
- Complementary parts of the structure similar to the above
Purpose of TCIP
The Purpose of TCIP is to ensure that life can continue at basic standards after an earthquake. This is achieved through a guarantee system that covers material losses caused by earthquakes in buildings.
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance aims to meet the requirements in the fastest and most effective way, with the cooperation of the State and the insurance industry. The main objectives of this system can be summarized as follows:
- Assuring all housing under coverage against earthquakes with payable premiums
- Ensuring risk sharing within the country
- Distributing the financial liability, which earthquake damage may bring to our country, to international reinsurance and capital markets through insurance.
- Reducing the financial burden of the State resulting from earthquakes, especially from the construction of disaster houses after the earthquake.
- Preventing the risk of additional taxes from being reflected to citizens arising from the financial burdens of the State.
- Using the insurance system as an incentive tool in the construction of structurally sound buildings
- Ensuring long-term accumulation of resources in covering earthquake damages
- Contributing to the development of insurance and social solidarity awareness in society
These objectives are crucial in helping us achieve a safer and more secure living environment, especially in a country prone to earthquakes.
Coverage

Compulsory Earthquake Insurance covers various building sections, including foundations, main walls, ceilings and floors, and roofs. These structural elements are crucial for maintaining the integrity of a building.
The insurance system also covers complementary parts of the structure, such as chimneys, which are often overlooked but can be a significant expense to repair or replace.
Here's a list of the building sections that are under coverage:
- Foundations
- Main walls
- Ceilings and floors
- Roofs
- Chimneys
- Complementary parts of the structure similar to the above
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance is not limited to residential buildings. It also covers independent sections within buildings used for commercial, office, or similar purposes, as well as dwellings built by the state or with state loans.
Buildings Covered
Compulsory Earthquake Insurance covers a specific range of buildings, so it's essential to understand what's included and what's not. Residential buildings with registered title deeds on privately owned properties are covered.
The insurance policy covers individual units, including those used as offices or bureaus, as long as they have a registered title deed. Housing units developed by the government or those constructed with government loans after natural disasters are also included.
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Buildings that are excluded from the insurance coverage include those used entirely for commercial or industrial purposes, buildings without a project and without engineering services, and buildings found to have been modified or weakened in a way that affects the load-bearing system.
You can get Optional Earthquake Insurance for buildings that are excluded from the compulsory insurance. This includes buildings located in villages, as well as those used for commercial and industrial purposes.
Here's a list of buildings that are covered by Compulsory Earthquake Insurance:
- Residential buildings with registered title deed on privately owned properties
- Independent units as per Property Law No. 634
- Independent units in these buildings which are used as office, bureau, etc.
- Housing units developed by the government or those constructed with government loans after natural disasters
These buildings have various structural components covered by the insurance policy, including foundations, main walls, ceilings, and roofs.
Earthquake Insurance Policy
Compulsory earthquake insurance is a type of insurance that provides protection against direct or indirect damages in buildings and their foundations due to a potential earthquake.
You can take out your compulsory earthquake insurance at Alternatif Bank Branches, which is covered by the Natural Disaster Insurance Authority (DASK).
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The policy is mandatory, and failure to subscribe to it can result in the inability to purchase and sell dwellings, perform subscriptions for water, electricity, and natural gas infrastructure facilities, and even conduct property transactions.
The maximum coverage limit is determined annually according to the increase in construction costs, and the insured sum is based on the size and construction style of the dwelling, excluding the land value.
The maximum coverage amount is determined by the cost of rebuilding the demolished dwelling, and if the value of the dwelling exceeds this amount, the insured may obtain additional coverages from private insurance companies.
You can obtain earthquake insurance for the following types of buildings:
- Private property built as a residence on immovable property and buildings
- Condominiums with independent sections and buildings located in other sections of a vineyard that are used for commercial purposes
- Houses made by the state as a result of natural disasters or houses made with a loan from the state
- Houses in cooperative buildings
Maximum Coverage Limit
The maximum coverage limit for Compulsory Earthquake Insurance is determined annually based on the increase in construction costs.
TCIP considers the cost of rebuilding a demolished dwelling, excluding the land value, to determine this limit.
The insured's sum, or insurance sum, is based on the size and construction style of their dwellings, but it cannot exceed the maximum coverage limit.
If your dwelling's value exceeds the maximum coverage amount provided by TCIP, you can opt to get additional coverages from private insurance companies for the excess amount.
You must have home insurance from a private insurance company to be eligible for this additional coverage.
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Earthquake Insurance Policy
Earthquake insurance policies are a must-have for homeowners in earthquake-prone areas. Compulsory Earthquake Insurance, covered by Natural Disaster Insurance Authority (DASK), is a type of insurance that protects against direct or indirect damages in buildings and their foundations due to earthquakes.
You can purchase this insurance at Alternatif Bank Branches. Mandatory earthquake insurance is a requirement for property owners, and failure to obtain it may result in restrictions on buying and selling properties.
The maximum coverage limit for this insurance is determined annually based on the increase in construction costs. This limit takes into account the cost of rebuilding a demolished dwelling, excluding the land value.
If the value of your dwelling exceeds the maximum coverage amount provided by the insurance, you can opt for additional coverage from private insurance companies. To be eligible for this, you must have home insurance from a private insurance company.
Here are the types of buildings that can obtain compulsory earthquake insurance:
- Private properties built as residences on immovable property and buildings
- Condominiums with independent sections
- Buildings made by the state as a result of natural disasters or with a loan from the state
- Cooperative buildings
These buildings must meet specific conditions, such as having a recorded deed and land registry, and not having been delivered in the last plot.
What Buildings Fall Within the Scope of?
So you're wondering what kind of buildings fall within the scope of earthquake insurance? Well, it's actually quite specific. Buildings constructed as dwellings on immovable properties registered to the title deed and subject to private property are covered.
Residential buildings with registered title deeds on privately owned properties are also included. This is according to Article 2 of the Decree No. 587 on Compulsory Earthquake Insurance. Independent units as per Property Law No. 634 are also covered.
Independent units in these buildings which are used as office, bureau, etc. are also included in the scope of earthquake insurance. Housing units developed by the government or those constructed with government loans after natural disasters are also covered.
Here's a breakdown of the types of buildings that fall within the scope of earthquake insurance:
- Residential buildings with registered title deeds on privately owned properties
- Independent units as per Property Law No. 634
- Independent units in these buildings which are used as office, bureau, etc.
- Housing units developed by the government or those constructed with government loans after natural disasters
Buildings constructed in and around village settlement areas and hamlets by those registered to the village population and permanent residents of the village are also covered.
Dask Insurance and Scope
Residential buildings with registered title deeds on privately owned properties fall within the scope of DASK Insurance.
Independent units as per Property Law No. 634 are also covered.
These units can be used for various purposes, including offices or bureaus.
Housing units developed by the government or constructed with government loans after natural disasters are also included.
Here's a list of the types of buildings covered by DASK Insurance:
- Residential buildings with registered title deeds on privately owned properties
- Independent units as per Property Law No. 634
- Independent units in these buildings used as office, bureau, etc.
- Housing units developed by the government or constructed with government loans after natural disasters
Sources
- https://www.dask.gov.tr/en/about-the-tcip
- https://www.somposigorta.com.tr/en/compulsory-earthquake-insurance
- https://www.ziraatkatilim.com.tr/en/retail/insurance-and-private-pension/compulsory-earthquake-insurance
- https://www.alternatifbank.com.tr/en/retail/insurance/compulsory-insurance/compulsory-earthquake-insurance-dask
- https://www.turkeviemlak.com/en/compulsory-earthquake-insurance-is-what/
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