Condominium Insurance
What Is Condominium Insurance?
Condominium insurance is similar to homeowners insurance but is designed for the specific needs of condo living. Many families choose condos because of the convenience of on-site maintenance and access to community amenities. In this environment, the main structures of all buildings and common areas are covered by an insurance policy held by the condo association. However, a personal condo insurance policy may cover property damage and liability risks of the unit owner.
Who Benefits From Condominium Insurance?
Condo insurance is beneficial for all condo owners as well their visitors. In fact, most mortgage companies require condo owners to purchase a policy for the duration of their loan. Condo insurance may cover damaged, lost or stolen property due to fire, theft, or natural disaster. This protection could extend to interior furnishings, including walls, flooring, ceilings, appliances, and fixtures.
In addition, this type of policy could cover you against liability claims. If you are found liable for a visitor’s injury, condo insurance could cover associated medical expenses and/or legal fees.
How Much Condominium Insurance Do You Need?
The necessary amount of condo insurance largely depends on the value of your possessions. By determining how much it would cost to replace your possessions, you can estimate the policy size that would be appropriate for your individual needs.
Do You Want to Learn More About the Details?
Condominium or cooperative unit owners own only the inside of their units. The outside of their units are owned by the condominium association or the cooperative. All insurance-related issues must be evaluated based on the condominium or cooperative bylaws. The bylaws define ownership, and this determines the required amount of property insurance. It also determines the unit-owner’s liability exposure. This type of shared ownership is expanding to include “landominiums” where the structures are entirely owned by the unit owners but all land is owned and maintained by the association. There are also “dockominiums” where the vessels are owned by the unit owners but the docks and piers are under association ownership.
Property exposure exists primarily of the personal property of the unit owner with additional property exposures defined by the applicable association bylaws. The unit owner’s responsibility determines the amount of insurance necessary. The unit owner is always responsible for carpeting and painting, but may also be responsible for the dry wall plus the plumbing and wiring within the walls. The responsibility for windows, doors, interior electrical, fireplaces, chimneys, cabinets, counters, and other items are also defined in the bylaws. In addition to all personal unit responsibility, the insured is also responsible for assessments brought by the condominium or cooperative for damage to common property as defined by the bylaws.
Inland marine exposure includes the antiques, jewelry, furs, electronics, and other types of property subject to sub-limits and exclusions within the homeowner’s policy. These items are often attractive theft targets. Locks and alarms are of particular interest along with the off-premise/transit exposures and storage arrangements.
Personal liability exposure exists via the members of the household (including pets) and conditions related to the insured premises. The age of any children, the type and breed of family pets, and the social and civic organizations the family participate in can all impact the loss potential. The unit owner’s premises liability is limited to the owned unit as explained in the bylaws. The condominium association or cooperative has the premises liability for the common areas. If a member of the household becomes an officer or board member of the association or cooperative, there is added exposure for decisions made by the board.