Personal Lines · Condo
Condo insurance: the gap between your unit and the master policy.
Two condo owners in the same building can need very different policies, depending on one document.
The short version
A condo policy — an HO-6 — exists to cover what your association's master policy doesn't. What that leaves you depends entirely on which kind of master policy your association carries. A bare walls or walls-in policy stops at the unfinished interior, leaving your cabinets, flooring, fixtures and built-ins to you. An all-in policy includes the original fixtures, so your exposure is mainly your upgrades and belongings.
You cannot know which you have without reading the association's declarations. That single document determines how much dwelling coverage you actually need, and it's the reason generic condo advice is close to useless.
The Master Policy
Find out which kind yours is.
It's the first question, and most owners have never asked it.
Bare walls / walls-in
Covers the structure to the unfinished interior surfaces. Cabinets, flooring, countertops, fixtures and built-ins are yours to insure. Needs a much larger dwelling limit on your HO-6.
All-in / single entity
Includes original fixtures and finishes as built. Your exposure narrows to upgrades you've made plus your belongings.
Where to look
The association's declarations and bylaws. Ask the management company for the current master policy declarations page — you're entitled to know what it covers.
It can change
Associations change carriers and coverage. A policy set up correctly five years ago can be wrong now, which is worth a check at renewal.
Loss Assessment
The endorsement most condo owners should have.
Inexpensive, frequently omitted, and the one that turns a surprise bill into a claim.
What it does
If the association suffers a loss that exceeds its coverage, or has to pay a large master-policy deductible, it can assess the owners — each unit gets a bill. Loss assessment coverage responds to that.
Master deductibles can be large
Association deductibles on a multi-building property can run well into five or six figures, and that cost is commonly shared across owners by assessment.
Check the limit, not just the box
Many policies include a token amount of loss assessment by default. Whether that's adequate depends on the size of your association and its deductible.
It isn't only for disasters
A liability claim against the association — someone injured in a common area — can produce an assessment the same way a hail loss can.
Straight Talk
Getting the limits right.
Your dwelling limit isn't your purchase price
It reflects what it would cost to rebuild your unit's interior to the extent you're responsible for — not what you paid, and not including the land or the building's shell.
Upgrades need to be told to the insurer
New flooring, a kitchen remodel, or built-ins raise your exposure. Improvements the policy doesn't know about are improvements it may not pay for.
Renting it out changes the policy
An HO-6 assumes you live there. A condo you rent out needs landlord coverage — see our landlord page.
Flood and water backup are still separate
Same as any home. Upper-floor units are not exempt from water damage — it usually arrives from above or from a neighbour's unit.
Get Started
Request a condo insurance quote.
Send your association's master policy declarations if you can get them — it's the fastest way to size this properly.
Reach us directly
You'll hear back from a real person on our team, not a call center.
Plano, TX 75074
Condo FAQ
Questions we hear often.
What does condo insurance cover that my HOA policy doesn't?
An HO-6 covers your unit's interior to the extent the master policy doesn't, plus your belongings, liability, and loss of use. How much interior falls to you depends on whether the master policy is bare walls or all-in.
What's the difference between bare walls and all-in master policies?
Bare walls covers the structure to the unfinished interior surfaces, leaving cabinets, flooring and fixtures to you. All-in includes the original fixtures as built, so your exposure is mainly upgrades and belongings.
What is loss assessment coverage?
If the association has a loss exceeding its coverage, or a large master-policy deductible, it can bill each owner a share. Loss assessment coverage responds to that bill. It's inexpensive and frequently under-limited.
How much dwelling coverage does my condo need?
Enough to rebuild the portion of the interior you're responsible for under the master policy — not your purchase price, and not the value of the building.
Do I need to tell my insurer about renovations?
Yes. Upgrades raise the cost to restore your unit, and improvements the policy doesn't know about may not be paid for.
Can I use a condo policy if I rent the unit out?
No. An HO-6 assumes owner-occupancy. A condo you rent out needs landlord coverage.
Does my condo policy cover flooding?
No. Flood needs a separate policy, and water backup usually needs its own endorsement. Upper-floor units are not exempt — water most often arrives from above.