Condo insurance (HO-6) in Florida

What condo insurance (HO-6) covers

Condo unit owners in Florida buy HO-6 policies to cover their interior unit property, personal belongings, liability, and improvements. The HOA's master policy covers the building structure and common areas. But Florida's post-Surfside condo laws (SB 4-D) have significantly increased HOA reserve requirements and structural inspection obligations, driving assessments and master policy costs higher than ever.

• Interior unit property. covers items inside the unit walls: flooring, cabinets, fixtures you installed, upgraded appliances, drywall — but not structural walls
• Personal property. your furniture, electronics, clothing, and other belongings
• Liability. covers your responsibility if someone is injured within your unit or you cause damage to common areas
• Improvements and alterations. covers renovations you made (new kitchen, flooring, bathroom, tile) — critical to document and schedule separately
• Loss assessment coverage. protects you when the HOA assesses unit owners to cover the master policy deductible or shortfalls in reserve funding
• Hurricane wind deductible. the master policy applies a separate hurricane deductible; that deductible is often passed to unit owners via loss assessment

Florida SB 4-D and rising assessments

After the Surfside condo collapse in 2021, Florida mandated that buildings three or more stories tall undergo milestone structural inspections (at 30 years and every 10 years thereafter) and maintain robust reserve funding. These laws have triggered massive HOA special assessments and increased master policy costs. Unit owners now face larger insurance bills, bigger HOA assessments, and fewer carriers willing to insure older condos.

• Mandatory structural inspections: buildings 3+ stories must inspect at 30-year mark and every 10 years after; inspection reports identify needed repairs
• Reserve funding requirements: HOAs must fund 100% of reserves (previously 50% was permitted); this drives special assessments
• Master policy deductibles: many carriers have raised deductibles significantly; more of that deductible is passed to unit owners via assessments
• High-rise insurance costs: tall buildings and older buildings face severe insurance hardening; master policies sometimes cannot be renewed, forcing HOAs into insolvency or special assessments

Master policies and your HO-6

The HOA's master property policy covers the building structure, roof, common areas, and shared systems. Your HO-6 covers your interior, belongings, and improvements. If the master policy's hurricane deductible is $100,000 and a hurricane damages the roof, the HOA assesses unit owners to cover that deductible. Loss assessment coverage in your HO-6 pays that bill — but you need adequate limits.

What affects your Florida condo rate

• Building age and height (buildings nearing 30-year inspection milestone or over 20 stories face sharp rate increases)
• Master policy deductible and hurricane deductible (higher deductibles = higher expected assessments = higher HO-6 rates)
• HOA reserve adequacy (underfunded reserves = higher HO-6 premiums)
• Roof age and condition (same scrutiny as Florida homeowners)
• Prior water damage or insurance claims
• Personal property limit and improvements coverage

How to lower your Florida condo rate

• Bundle condo with auto and umbrella for multi-policy discounts (15–20% common)
• Increase your deductible from $500 to $1,000 if you can absorb the loss
• Document all improvements and renovations; provide receipts to your agent
• Add $50,000+ loss assessment coverage (SB 4-D assessments are large; $25,000 is often insufficient)
• Ask your HOA board about reserve-funding status; well-funded HOAs get better master-policy rates, lowering assessment risk

Why buy Florida condo insurance through Maru

Florida condo insurance has become complicated by SB 4-D assessments and master policy gaps. Maru ensures your loss assessment coverage is adequate to cover likely HOA deductible assessments, helps you document improvements, and shops your HO-6 annually so you're not overpaying for coverage or left exposed. We also help you understand your HOA's reserve status and what to expect from future assessments — information that directly affects your HO-6 rate.

Frequently asked questions

Vadim — Maru Insurance
Licensed independent insurance agent · WA & FL
Written and reviewed by a licensed Maru advisor. Maru Insurance is an independent agency (WA License WAOIC #1365574, FL License #G363233) representing multiple A-rated carriers across Washington and Florida.