Most condo owners assume the association "has insurance" and stop there. It does, and Florida law requires it. But the law also spells out what that master policy must leave out, and every item on that list is yours to insure. If your unit policy is thin, a covered loss to the building can still leave you paying for your own kitchen.
What the Association Must Insure
Under s. 718.111(11), Florida Statutes, every condominium association must carry adequate property insurance, regardless of what the declaration says. For association policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2009, that coverage is primary for all portions of the condominium property as originally installed, or replacement of like kind and quality, plus permitted alterations and additions.
What the Law Leaves to You
The same section says the association's coverage must exclude these items when they sit inside your unit and serve only your unit, and it makes them, and their insurance, the unit owner's responsibility:
- All personal property in the unit
- Floor, wall and ceiling coverings
- Electrical fixtures
- Appliances, water heaters and water filters
- Built-in cabinets and countertops
- Window treatments, including curtains, drapes, blinds and hardware
That is most of what makes a unit livable. An HO-6 policy is built to cover it.
