Condo insurance (HO-6) in Florida for buyers: what the association's policy covers, what you insure, loss assessment coverage and the master deductible

October 31, 2026 · Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub

Short answer: in a Florida condo, the association insures the building as it was originally built, and you insure what's inside your unit, including floors, wall and ceiling coverings, appliances, cabinets and countertops, plus your belongings and liability. Your HO-6 policy must include at least $2,000 of loss assessment coverage. Read the association's insurance and deductible before you buy, because a large deductible can turn into a special assessment.

What the association's policy must cover

Florida requires every condominium association to carry adequate property insurance, with the replacement cost set by an independent insurance appraisal or an update at least every 3 years (section 718.111(11)). The association's policy must cover all portions of the condominium property as originally installed, or replacement of like kind and quality, plus alterations or additions made under section 718.113(2).

What you insure

The same law excludes the following from the association's policy and makes them the unit owner's responsibility when they're inside the unit and serve only that unit:

1. Personal property in the unit or limited common elements.
2. Floor, wall and ceiling coverings.
3. Electrical fixtures, appliances, water heaters and water filters.
4. Built-in cabinets and countertops.
5. Window treatments, including curtains, drapes, blinds and hardware.

The association also isn't obligated to pay to repair improvements a current or former owner installed that benefit only that unit and weren't part of the developer's standard construction. If the seller upgraded the kitchen or floors, budget your HO-6 coverage for the unit as it is, not as it was built.

Loss assessment coverage: the $2,000 floor

Florida requires a unit owner's residential property policy to include at least $2,000 of property loss assessment coverage for assessments from the same direct loss, with a deductible of no more than $250 (section 627.714). The limit that applies is the one in effect the day before the loss, so changes made on or after the day before a loss don't apply to that loss. Your unit policy is also excess coverage over any other policy covering the same property. After you read the association's deductible, ask your insurance agent whether a higher loss assessment limit makes sense.

The master deductible can become your bill

The board sets the association's deductibles. They must be consistent with industry standards and prevailing practice for similar communities, and can be based on reserves or the association's assessment authority. The board sets them at a meeting held the way section 718.112(2)(e) requires. Deductibles and damage above the coverage are a common expense, except when a unit owner, an occupant or a guest caused the damage through negligence, intentional conduct or a rule violation (section 718.111(11)(c) and (j)).

In practice, ask for the association's current policy declarations and find the named-storm or hurricane deductible. Compare it with the reserves in the budget. If the reserves can't cover the deductible, the gap may come back to owners as a special assessment; see why condo fees are so high.

What conventional lenders require

Fannie Mae requires the borrower to keep an individual unit owner policy to the extent the master policy doesn't cover the unit's interior or improvements. It caps the master policy deductible at 5% of the coverage amount, and if the master policy uses a per-unit deductible (maximum $50,000), the borrower must have a unit owner policy (Fannie Mae B7-3-03). Ask your lender what it needs for FHA or VA loans; see how to check if a condo is FHA-approved.

Buyer checklist for Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Aventura condos

1. Request the association's insurance declarations page, the deductibles, and the date of the last replacement cost appraisal.
2. Check the budget and reserves against the named-storm deductible.
3. Get HO-6 quotes during your inspection period, with interior coverage, loss assessment and liability limits listed separately.
4. Ask whether the unit has owner-installed upgrades you'll need to insure.
5. Add flood coverage separately if your lender requires it or you want it: flood insurance for condo buyers.
6. Put the premium in the affordability calculator.

Browse Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and Aventura condos, and start at Ready to buy.

Zach Curtis, Realtor, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. Equal Housing Opportunity. General information, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Ask a licensed insurance agent about coverage for a specific unit.

Published October 31, 2026 by Zach Curtis, REALTOR®, Realty Hub, license SL3664129. General information for South Florida, not legal, tax, insurance or lending advice. Laws, programs and prices change; check the official sources above, and ask a Florida attorney, CPA, insurance agent or lender about your situation. Listing numbers are asking prices and rents from BeachesMLS on the date shown. Equal Housing Opportunity. Zach Curtis and Realty Hub follow federal, Florida and Broward County fair housing law. Every listing is open to everyone. We never steer anyone by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class.