Dwelling (Coverage A)
Covers the interior portions of the unit the owner is responsible for: drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, built-in appliances, and similar items, depending on the master policy's split.
Condo Insurance
Condo Insurance (HO‑6) in Florida and Georgia
HO-6 coverage sized against your association's master policy, with the loss assessment and hurricane deductible exposure spelled out before you bind. We review the master declarations, confirm what your unit actually needs, and explain where the master ends and your HO-6 begins.
Why this matters
Condo insurance is a split coverage problem.
Your condo association carries a master policy that covers some part of the building. Your HO-6 covers the rest of your unit, plus your personal property, your liability, and your share of any loss the master policy doesn't fully cover. The split between the two depends entirely on the master policy type (bare walls, walls-in, or all-in), the association bylaws, and how recent the master was written. Getting the split wrong is where condo owners get hurt.
Whether you're buying your first condo, refinancing, switching units in the same building, transitioning from renting to owning, or just renewing a policy that hasn't been reviewed against the current master, we'll read the bylaws and master declarations, size the HO-6 to actually match your responsibility, and walk through where the hurricane deductible and loss assessment limits expose you.
What's covered
What a condo (HO-6) policy includes.
Personal property (Coverage C)
Furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen items, and other belongings inside the unit, up to your selected limit.
Personal liability (Coverage E)
Pays if you're sued for bodily injury or property damage you cause to others, including damage to a neighbor's unit, up to your liability limit.
Loss assessment
Pays your share of a covered loss assessment from the association after a covered event. The single most important condo-specific coverage to size correctly in Florida.
Loss of use (Coverage D)
Hotel, food, transportation, and similar additional living expenses while you're displaced from a covered loss that makes the unit uninhabitable.
Medical payments (Coverage F)
Small medical coverage for guests injured at the unit, regardless of fault, typically up to $1,000 to $5,000.
Gaps
What condo (HO-6) coverage doesn't cover.
The building structure and common areas
Exterior walls, roof, building systems, hallways, lobbies, pools, and other common elements are the association's responsibility under the master policy. The HO-6 is built to cover what the master doesn't.
Flood damage
Excluded from every standard HO-6 policy. Flood is written separately through NFIP or private flood carriers. Especially important for ground-floor and first-elevated-floor units in coastal Florida.
Earth movement and sinkholes
Earth movement (earthquake, landslide) is excluded. Florida sinkhole coverage is a separate optional endorsement, not part of standard HO-6.
Routine wear and gradual damage
HO-6 covers sudden accidental damage, not gradual deterioration, deferred maintenance, rot, rust, or wear. Slow leaks and long-term water intrusion are common claim denials.
High-value items above category sublimits
Jewelry, watches, firearms, silverware, and similar categories have low default sublimits (often $1,500 to $2,500, sometimes only for theft). Higher-value items need scheduled personal property coverage.
Short-term rental use (Airbnb, VRBO)
Standard HO-6 policies generally exclude short-term rental use. Many associations also restrict or prohibit short-term rentals in the bylaws. Owners renting through peer-to-peer platforms need a different policy structure.
State knowledge
What to know about condo insurance in Florida and Georgia.
Florida
Hurricane deductible: 2% / 5% / 10%
Loss assessment is critical
Master policy varies by building
Florida has one of the largest condo markets in the country, especially along the coast. HO-6 policies typically include a separate hurricane deductible (commonly 2%, 5%, or 10% of Coverage A) that triggers on named-storm damage, separate from the standard all-perils deductible. After major storms, associations frequently impose special assessments on unit owners to cover damage above what the master policy pays, which is exactly what loss assessment coverage is built to handle. Standard $1,000 loss assessment limits are frequently inadequate in Florida. Florida law also requires associations of certain sizes to maintain specific master policy coverages, but the exact split between master and unit owner still varies building by building.
Georgia
No mandatory hurricane deductible
Loss assessment still relevant
Smaller condo market
Georgia's condo market is smaller and more concentrated in metro areas. Hurricane deductibles are not mandatory, and most policies use a flat all-perils deductible. Loss assessment is still relevant for any condo association: major storm or building damage that exceeds the master policy can still trigger assessments. We write condos in both states from our offices in Saint Augustine and Saint Johns.
Limits
Coverage limits to consider.
The first question on any HO-6 is what the master policy actually covers. With a bare-walls (walls-out) master, the association covers only the building's structure and leaves everything inside the unit (drywall in, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, appliances) to the owner. Coverage A on the HO-6 has to be sized to cover all of that. With an all-in (all-inclusive) master, the association covers most interior items including upgrades, and Coverage A can be much lower. Sizing Coverage A without reading the master declarations is one of the most common HO-6 mistakes.
Loss assessment is the next decision and frequently the most consequential. Standard limits often default to $1,000. After a major storm, special assessments from the association to cover building damage above the master policy can run tens of thousands per unit. Raising the loss assessment limit to $25,000, $50,000, or higher is usually a small premium increase relative to the financial exposure.
Personal property limits work the same way as on a homeowners policy: replacement cost is almost always the right choice, and high-value categories (jewelry, watches, firearms, art) often need to be scheduled separately because of low default sublimits.
The hurricane deductible on a Florida HO-6 is calculated against Coverage A, so it's typically smaller in dollar terms than on a homeowners policy. Still, a 5% hurricane deductible on a $100,000 Coverage A is $5,000 out of pocket per named storm. We walk through the deductible math against the master policy structure and the building's typical assessment history during the coverage review.
All-in / walls-in master
Lower Coverage A
The association's master covers most interior items, so the unit owner's Coverage A can be lower. Loss assessment coverage still matters because assessments can still come through for damage above master limits.
Bare-walls (walls-out) master
Higher Coverage A
The association covers only the structure. Coverage A on the HO-6 has to cover all interior finishes (drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, appliances), often a meaningfully larger figure.
Common scenarios
Situations that change your condo coverage.
Buying your first condo
We read the master declarations alongside the HO-6 to confirm where the association's responsibility ends and yours begins, and we issue the certificate of insurance the closing typically requires.
Master policy renews or changes
When the association switches carriers or changes coverage type, the right HO-6 coverage often changes too. We re-review when you receive an updated master summary.
Special assessment pending
An assessment already in process at the time of purchase may not be covered by your loss assessment coverage. We confirm timing and structure coverage accordingly.
Renovating cabinets, flooring, or fixtures
Upgrades and improvements increase your Coverage A exposure, especially with a bare-walls or walls-in master. We update the policy to reflect the actual replacement cost of the unit's interior.
Approaching hurricane season
Loss assessment coverage and hurricane deductible structure both matter most when a storm is approaching. We review both before June 1.
Renting the unit out short-term or long-term
Tenant-occupied or short-term rental use changes the policy form entirely. Some carriers won't write HO-6 on a rented unit; others require a landlord-style form (DP-3) instead.
Premium and discounts
What goes into your condo premium.
What affects your premium
HO-6 premiums in Florida depend on a different mix of factors than a single-family home. The biggest movers are the unit's Coverage A (which depends on the master policy type), the loss assessment limit you choose, the building's age, construction type, and location, and the floor your unit is on. A ground-floor unit in a 1980s frame building rates very differently from a high-floor unit in a 2010 concrete tower, even in the same ZIP code.
The master policy itself indirectly affects pricing. A building with a strong, recently updated master policy and a well-funded reserves account is less likely to need special assessments, which carriers factor into HO-6 pricing for that building. Claims history (the CLUE report) follows both the unit owner and sometimes the building. The hurricane deductible percentage you choose is one of the biggest single premium levers available in Florida.
No two carriers weight these factors the same way. Some Florida carriers specialize in coastal high-rises, some in inland low-rises, some in older buildings, some in newer construction. The right carrier for your specific building is often not the right carrier for the unit two buildings over.
Discounts that may apply
HO-6 discounts are smaller in absolute dollars than homeowners discounts because HO-6 premiums themselves are smaller, but the same multi-policy and protective-device discounts still apply meaningfully.
Building safety and protection features
Sprinkler systems throughout the building, monitored fire alarms, secured-entry buildings, and gated communities can each carry credits with most carriers.
Unit-level protective devices
Monitored security alarms, smart water-leak detection, deadbolts, and similar in-unit features can produce small discounts that stack.
Multi-policy bundling
Bundling HO-6 with auto when the same carrier writes both. In Florida specifically, the best HO-6 carrier and the best auto carrier are often different companies, so we compare both.
Claim-free and payment
Clean claims history over several years, plus paid-in-full and autopay discounts on the policy itself.
Available discounts vary widely between carriers, especially in the Florida condo market where some carriers tighten or loosen appetite throughout the year. We check what you actually qualify for as part of the coverage review and tell you when one carrier's discount lineup makes more sense for your specific building than another's.
Decisions
When you actually need each coverage.
How much Coverage A do I actually need?
It depends on the master policy. With a bare-walls (walls-out) master, Coverage A has to cover all interior finishes (drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, appliances), often $50,000 to $150,000 or more depending on the unit. With an all-in master, Coverage A can be much lower because the master covers most interior items. We read the master declarations before sizing Coverage A.
What loss assessment coverage should I carry?
Far more than the standard $1,000 default, especially in Florida coastal buildings. After a major storm, special assessments to unit owners can run into the tens of thousands. Raising the limit to $25,000, $50,000, or more is usually a small premium increase relative to the protection. We size it to your specific building's exposure.
Do I need flood insurance for my unit?
For ground-floor and first-elevated-floor units in coastal Florida, yes, almost without exception. For higher floors, it depends on the building, the flood zone, and what the master flood policy (if any) covers. NFIP and private flood both write condo unit flood policies that cover your interior and personal property. We confirm whether the master flood covers the building structure separately.
Replacement cost or actual cash value on personal property?
For most condo owners, replacement cost is the right answer. The premium difference is usually small, but the claim outcome is materially better. A 5-year-old TV or piece of furniture is worth a fraction of its purchase price under ACV; under replacement cost, the policy pays for a comparable new version.
Carriers
Carriers we work with for condo coverage.
We write HO-6 coverage through multiple carriers, including Florida-domiciled carriers built specifically for the Florida property market and Citizens Property Insurance for units that can't be placed with private carriers. The right fit depends on the building's age, location, construction type, master policy structure, and your personal property and liability needs.
Each carrier has a different appetite for condo. Some specialize in newer coastal high-rises, some in older inland low-rises, some in specific building types. The Florida HO-6 market changes regularly, so the right carrier this year is not always the right carrier next year. We re-shop at renewal when it makes sense and explain what changed.
Allstate (GA)
Tower Hill
American Integrity
Chubb
Cypress
Edison
Florida Peninsula
Monarch National
One Alliance
Security First
Slide
Carrier appointments vary by line and state. Available carriers depend on the building, your specific unit, and underwriting eligibility. The Florida condo market changes frequently and not every carrier is open to new condo business at all times.
Questions
Condo insurance questions we hear a lot.
What's the difference between HO-3 and HO-6?
HO-3 is the homeowners policy used for single-family homes. It covers the entire structure plus personal property and liability. HO-6 is the condo owner's policy. It covers only the interior portion of the unit (the parts the association's master policy does not cover), plus personal property, liability, loss of use, and loss assessment. The split between HO-6 and the association's master policy depends on the master policy type, which is why HO-6 is sized to the specific building and bylaws.
What does my condo association's master policy actually cover?
It depends on the master policy type. A bare-walls (walls-out) master covers only the building's structure (studs, beams, exterior, common areas) and leaves everything inside the unit to the owner. A walls-in (single entity) master covers the original installed items inside the unit (drywall, basic flooring, basic cabinets) but not upgrades. An all-in (all-inclusive) master covers virtually everything inside the unit, including upgrades. We review your association's declarations and current master policy before sizing the HO-6.
What is loss assessment coverage and why does it matter?
Loss assessment pays your share of a covered loss assessment from the association. If a hurricane damages the building beyond what the master policy covers, the association can assess each unit owner for their portion. Standard HO-6 policies often default to a $1,000 loss assessment limit, which is frequently inadequate in Florida. Higher loss assessment limits ($25,000, $50,000, or more) are commonly worth the small additional premium, especially in coastal buildings.
How much Coverage A do I need on a condo?
It depends on the master policy. With a bare-walls master, Coverage A must cover all interior finishes (drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, appliances), often $50,000 to $150,000 or more depending on the unit. With an all-in master, Coverage A can be much lower because the master covers most interior items. Setting Coverage A too low for a bare-walls master is one of the most common HO-6 mistakes we see.
Does my HO-6 cover flood damage?
No. Flood is excluded from every standard HO-6 policy. Flood is written separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or through private flood carriers. For ground-floor or first-elevated-floor condos in coastal Florida, flood is especially important. The HOA's master flood policy (if any) generally covers the building's exterior and common areas, not the inside of your unit.
What about hurricane damage to my condo?
Hurricane damage to the interior of the unit and your personal property is generally covered under HO-6, subject to your policy's deductible structure. Florida HO-6 policies often include a separate hurricane deductible expressed as a percentage of Coverage A. Hurricane damage to the building exterior is the master policy's responsibility, though the master's hurricane deductible can flow through to unit owners as a loss assessment.
What's the difference between bare walls, walls-in, and all-in master policies?
Bare walls (walls-out) master policies cover only the building's structure and leave everything inside the unit (drywall in, flooring, cabinets, fixtures) to the owner. Walls-in (single entity) covers original installed items inside the unit but not upgrades. All-in (all-inclusive) covers virtually everything inside the unit, including upgrades. The master policy type drives how much Coverage A you need on your HO-6, and it's the first question we ask when sizing the policy.
Am I covered if a pipe bursts in the unit above me?
Your HO-6 typically covers sudden water damage to your unit and belongings from a covered cause, including water originating in another unit. The upstairs neighbor's HO-6 may respond for their liability, and the master policy may respond for damage to common elements. We help untangle which policy responds when a multi-unit water loss happens.
Does HO-6 cover my balcony or patio?
Coverage on balconies, patios, lanais, and similar limited-common-element areas depends on how the association's bylaws and master policy define them. Some master policies cover these areas, others assign them to the unit owner. We review the bylaws and master declarations to confirm where the responsibility falls and adjust the HO-6 accordingly.
What about damage I cause to a neighbor's unit?
Personal liability coverage on your HO-6 pays if you're legally responsible for damage to another owner's unit (a burst dishwasher line, an overflowing tub) or for injury to others. The liability limit you choose matters here. $300,000 is a common minimum; higher limits and pairing with a personal umbrella are common for owners with significant assets.
Are my belongings covered when I travel?
Yes. Most HO-6 policies include off-premises coverage for personal property while you're traveling, at work, or otherwise away from the unit, typically up to a sublimit (often 10% of your personal property limit). Phones, laptops, luggage, and similar items taken on a trip are usually covered.
Can I bundle condo with auto?
Yes, when the same carrier writes both lines. Bundling produces meaningful discounts when available. In Florida, the best HO-6 carrier and the best auto carrier are often different companies because of how the Florida property market is structured, so sometimes splitting policies still produces the best overall premium. We compare both before recommending.
Does HO-6 cover my home business in the unit?
Personal HO-6 policies provide limited business property coverage (typically up to $2,500) and generally exclude business liability. A home-based business with clients visiting the unit, inventory on premises, or revenue above a small threshold usually needs a home business endorsement or a separate business owners policy.
How fast can I get a condo insurance quote?
Most condo quotes can be started the same day. Carriers ask for the unit address, building details (year built, construction type, number of floors), the master policy type and any declarations available, your estimated Coverage A, personal property and liability limits, prior claims history, and information about pets or specific items to schedule. The master policy summary is the single most useful document to have on hand.
Related
Coverage that pairs with condo.
Ready to compare your condo coverage?
Send us your current declarations page and a copy of your association's master policy summary, give us a call, or request a free quote. We'll review what you have, read it against the master, and walk you through the options.