Short answer: A Florida condo unit owner needs an HO-6 policy because the association's master policy does not cover what Florida law makes the owner responsible for: interior finishes, fixtures, appliances, belongings, liability and loss assessments. Florida requires HO-6 policies to include at least $2,000 of loss assessment coverage. Nymble Insurance insures Florida condo units used as a primary home, a long-term rental or a short-term rental, plus vacant units and renovations. Call (813) 291-3484.
What Florida law says the unit owner must insure
Under §718.111(11), the association insures the building and common elements, but it excludes items the statute places on the unit owner, including floor, wall and ceiling coverings, electrical fixtures, appliances, water heaters, water filters, built-in cabinets and countertops, and window treatments, along with personal property. Your declaration of condominium controls the details, so read it with your agent.
HO-6 coverages that matter in Florida
- Coverage A, unit improvements: the interior items the master policy excludes.
- Coverage C, belongings and Coverage D, loss of use.
- Liability for injuries in your unit and damage you cause to neighbors.
- Loss assessment: Florida requires at least $2,000 per occurrence (§627.714). Many owners buy more to match the master policy's hurricane deductible. See loss assessment explained.
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- Primary or seasonal home: a standard HO-6; tell the carrier if it sits empty for long stretches.
- Long-term rental: a unit-owner rental form with loss of rents and landlord liability, and require tenants to carry renters insurance.
- Short-term rental (Airbnb, VRBO): most owner-occupied HO-6 forms limit or exclude business use, so you need a policy written for transient rental. See vacation rental insurance.
- Vacant unit: many policies restrict vandalism and water coverage after a period of vacancy. See vacant home insurance.
- Renovation: big interior remodels may need builders risk or a course-of-construction endorsement.
Post-Surfside rules and your premium
Florida now requires milestone structural inspections for condo and cooperative buildings three stories or taller, generally by the end of the year the building turns 30, with local option to require it at 25 (§553.899). Associations must also complete a Structural Integrity Reserve Study and fund reserves for key components (§718.112). Buildings with incomplete inspections or underfunded reserves can face higher master premiums and fewer carrier options, which flow through to HOA dues and assessments. Associations: see condo association insurance.
Flood and wind for condo owners
HO-6 policies exclude flood. Check whether the association carries flood on the building and buy unit-level flood for your interior and belongings. Wind is usually included, with a hurricane deductible under §627.701.
Condo Unit Owners Insurance FAQ
Do I need HO-6 insurance if my Florida condo has a master policy?
What is the minimum loss assessment coverage in Florida?
Can I insure a condo I rent on Airbnb or VRBO?
Does Nymble insure vacant condo units?
Sources
- Fla. Stat. §718.111 (condo association powers, insurance)
- Fla. Stat. §627.714 (unit owner coverage, loss assessment)
- Fla. Stat. §553.899 (milestone inspections)
- Fla. Stat. §718.112 (bylaws, reserves, SIRS)
- Fla. Stat. §627.701 (hurricane deductibles)
- FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
Educational information only, not legal advice or a coverage guarantee. Coverage depends on the policy issued. Nymble Insurance, licensed Florida independent agency, license L131669, (813) 291-3484.