Your Type of Property
Condo Insurance (HO-6) vs. the HOA Master Policy
Short answer
A condo association's master policy generally covers the building structure and common areas. Your HO-6 unit-owners policy covers your belongings, liability, loss of use and the parts of the unit you're responsible for under the association's rules, such as interior finishes and improvements. How much of the interior you must insure depends on the master policy type and bylaws, so read both before choosing limits.
Free Quote by Phone
Own a condo? Ask about HO-6 coverage
Call to request a free condo unit-owners quote. Have your association's insurance summary or bylaws ready so a licensed agent can match your coverage to what the master policy leaves to you.
- Free quote
- Licensed agents
- By phone, no online forms
This line is for new or replacement coverage quotes. For an existing claim, contact your current insurer; in an emergency, call 911 first.
We work with local licensed home insurance agents and connect your call with an agent.
At a glance
- Master policy: building and common areas. HO-6: your unit's interior responsibilities, belongings and liability.
- Bare-walls, single-entity and all-in master policies shift interior responsibility differently.
- Loss assessment helps when the association bills owners after a covered loss.
- Ask for the master policy's deductible; you may owe part of it.
On this page
California’s Department of Insurance explains that condominium unit-owners insurance covers personal property, loss of use, personal liability and medical payments to others, like renters insurance, and also covers damage to the interior of the unit and improvements the owner is responsible for under the association’s rules. The association generally insures the building structure and common areas.
Who covers what (typical pattern)
| Item | HOA master policy | Your HO-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Roof, exterior walls, common areas | Usually | No |
| Interior walls, floors, cabinets, fixtures | Depends on master policy type | Often, for your responsibilities |
| Upgrades you or prior owners added | Rarely | Usually |
| Your belongings | No | Yes |
| Your liability inside the unit | No | Yes |
| Your temporary housing | No | Loss of use |
| Your share of an association assessment | No | Loss assessment |
Master policy types
Associations describe their coverage differently, and terms vary by governing documents and state law. Common descriptions:
- Bare walls: the association covers the structure; unit owners insure everything from the drywall in.
- Single entity (original specs): the association covers original interior fixtures; owners cover upgrades and belongings.
- All-in: the association covers fixtures and improvements too; owners still cover belongings and liability.
Ask the association or manager for the policy summary and the bylaws’ insurance section.
Loss assessment
California’s guide notes that loss assessment covers certain assessments the association makes as a result of a loss, and recommends checking whether it covers earthquake and how much. A large master-policy deductible is a common reason associations assess owners.
Loss of use and limits
The California guide notes condo loss of use is generally limited to 40% of the personal property limit in the policies it describes. Set the belongings limit from an inventory, and the unit coverage from what the bylaws make you responsible for.
Water damage between units
Leaks from one unit into another are common. Ask which policy responds first under your association’s rules, and whether your HO-6 covers damage you cause to a neighbor’s unit through liability.
By phone
What happens when you call
A conversation lets the agent ask about your specific home instead of relying on a generic online estimate. There are no online forms to fill out.
Describe your home
Share the address, size, age, construction, and roof or system updates. You do not need every detail to start.
Talk through coverage
Explain what you want covered and ask about limits, deductibles, and exclusions that apply to your property.
Compare and decide
Ask for the written quote terms and compare them before deciding. A call or a quote does not start coverage.
Sources and how this page was checked
Page updatedThis page is general information written from the public sources below. It has not been reviewed by an insurance company, attorney or licensed agent for your situation. Your policy form, endorsements, insurer and state rules decide what is covered.
Sources
- California Department of Insurance — Residential Insurance: Homeowners and Renters (Form 401, rev. January 2026)Retrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for Coverage A–F descriptions, special limits on valuables, renters and condo coverage, dwelling limits based on rebuilding cost rather than market value, actual cash value, guaranteed and limited/extended replacement cost, building code upgrade (ordinance or law) coverage, inflation guard, FAIR Plan, surplus lines and binder/quote definitions. California rules (notice periods, broker fees, CA-specific laws) are not generalized nationally.
- Texas Department of Insurance — Home insurance guideRetrieved and reviewed October 14, 2026. Texas consumer guidance; used for general policy concepts, with Texas-specific examples identified rather than generalized.
Before you rely on this page
- Read your declarations page, policy form and every endorsement; they control over any summary.
- Ask the insurer or agent to confirm limits, deductibles and exclusions in writing before you buy or cancel coverage.
- For state rules, deadlines or complaints, check your state insurance department directly.