Buying a condo, or just making sure your current coverage is actually right? Condo insurance sounds simple on the surface, but there are a handful of details that catch people off guard — especially around what your association’s master policy covers versus what’s on you. Think Safe Insurance is here to walk you through it, so you’re not guessing about what’s actually protected.
Florida Condo Insurance (HO-6) — Quick Summary
- What it covers: Your personal property, interior upgrades, and liability — based on your unit’s Coverage C limit, not a dwelling limit like a homeowners policy
- Florida law sets the baseline: Under Florida Statute 718.111(11), your association’s master policy must cover the property “as originally installed” — leaving flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, and water heaters as the unit owner’s responsibility to insure
- Named perils by default: Standard condo policies only cover specific listed causes of loss, unlike open-perils homeowners policies — ask about Special Unit Owners Coverage A to broaden that
- Loss assessment is required: Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 627.714) requires at least $2,000 in loss assessment coverage on every HO-6 policy, to help cover your share if the association levies a special assessment — but that minimum is often too low after a major storm, so ask about raising the limit
- Depends on your association: How much coverage you actually need depends heavily on whether your master policy is Bare Walls, Single Entity, or Modified Single Entity
- Renting your condo? Most policies need a Condo Rented to Others endorsement added — it’s not automatic
- Board member or association? If you need coverage for the association itself rather than an individual unit, visit our dedicated resource at associations.thinksafeinsurance.com
Our Carriers
We’ve partnered with many of the best condo insurance companies writing in Florida. If you haven’t gotten a quote with us yet, reach out today so we can make sure you’re getting real value, not just the first number you saw.
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Condo Insurance vs. Homeowners Insurance: What’s Actually Different
Condo coverage is built around your Coverage C personal property limit, while homeowners policies are built around the Coverage A dwelling limit — a fundamentally different starting point. There’s another difference worth knowing before you buy: a standard condo policy is typically a named-perils policy, meaning only specific listed causes of loss are covered. Homeowners policies are usually open-perils, covering everything except what’s specifically excluded — broader protection by default. The good news is you can add that same broader protection to a condo policy too, so make sure to ask us about Special Unit Owners Coverage A. It’s a genuinely worthwhile upgrade for most condo owners.
Related: What Do These Coverages Mean?
What Does Your Association’s Master Policy Actually Cover?
This is the single biggest factor in figuring out how much coverage you personally need — and it’s the question most condo owners never think to ask until something goes wrong. Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 718.111(11)) sets a baseline: your association’s master policy must cover the property as it was originally installed, and specifically excludes things like flooring, cabinets, countertops, appliances, and water heaters from the association’s responsibility — those fall to you as the unit owner, at minimum. Some associations choose to cover more than that legal floor. There are three main types of master policy coverage your association can carry, and each one shifts different responsibility onto you:
- Bare Walls — The association covers the exterior of the building and common areas only. Everything inside your unit’s walls — flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures — is on you.
- Single Entity (As-Built) — The association covers your unit as it was originally constructed. Any upgrades you’ve made since then are your responsibility to insure.
- Modified Single Entity (All-In) — The association covers your unit as it currently stands, upgrades included. If your association carries this, you likely need much less additional coverage than you’d think.
No matter which type your association carries, you’ll still want personal property and liability coverage of your own — the master policy protects the building, not your belongings or your legal exposure. If you’re on your association’s board or handle insurance decisions for the community itself rather than an individual unit, that’s a different kind of coverage entirely — visit associations.thinksafeinsurance.com, our dedicated resource for HOA and condo association master policies.
I Have a Townhouse — Do I Need HO-3 or HO-6 Coverage?
This question comes up constantly, and the honest answer is: it depends on your association. Many townhome associations cover at least the outside of the building — if yours does, you most likely need condo insurance (HO-6). From there, figure out what type of master policy your association carries (see above) so you know exactly where your coverage needs to pick up. If your association doesn’t cover the exterior at all, you probably need a Florida homeowners insurance policy (HO-3) instead. If you’re not sure which situation applies to you, just give us a call — we’ll help you sort it out rather than guess.
Renting Out Your Condo
Unlike most homeowners policies, condo policies can be adjusted to cover units that are rented out — but it’s not automatic. You’ll usually need to add a Condo Rented to Others endorsement to get coverage for tenant-occupied units, and every carrier has its own guidelines on rental eligibility. If you’re building out a rental portfolio or want more on landlord and investor-focused coverage, our dedicated resource for investors at investors.thinksafeinsurance.com goes deeper.
Let’s Make Sure You’re Actually Covered
This only scratches the surface of how condo policies actually work. Whether you’re buying a coastal high-rise in Tampa Bay or a quiet unit in Brandon or Valrico, you don’t need to become an expert on your own, and you definitely don’t need to spend your afternoon calling companies that don’t even write in your area — that’s exactly what we’re here for.
Contact your condo insurance team at Think Safe Insurance today at 813-425-1626. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you find coverage that actually fits your unit and your association’s policy — not just a generic quote.
And while you’re at it, don’t forget to ask about bundling your auto insurance too — it’s an easy way to save.
Reviewed by Greg Martin
Licensed Florida Insurance Agent, License #P036341
Greg Martin has over 18 years of experience helping Brandon, Valrico, and greater Hillsborough County families navigate home, auto, and flood insurance in Florida. He is the owner of Think Safe Insurance.
Last Reviewed: July 2026