Updated: November 6, 2024
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An HO-6 insurance policy provides many of the same protections for a condominium as traditional homeowners insurance provides for detached homes. If the interior of your unit sustains damage from certain hazards, your HO-6 coverage will pay for repairs or rebuilding the damaged elements, as well as for the repair or replacement of your personal belongings. Your condominium association should have insurance coverage for your condo’s building, hallways, common walls and grounds.
An HO-6 insurance policy covers the interior of your condo — flooring, ceiling, walls and built-in cabinets and fixtures (such as a bathtub or shower) — as well as your personal belongings.
HO-6 insurance also includes liability and medical coverage if someone is hurt in your unit, or you’re responsible for damage to their personal property.
Your lender or condo association may require HO-6 coverage. Costs depend on your location, the value of your unit and more.
An HO-6 insurance policy provides coverage if the interior of your condo or your personal belongings are damaged. It also includes liability coverage if someone is hurt in your unit, if their personal property is damaged or if you need money to live elsewhere while your condo is under repair.
HO-6 policies cover structural damage and your personal belongings, so deciding how much coverage you need depends on the costs to repair or replace these items. Having an itemized home inventory that includes how much you paid for your personal belongings can be a great starting point for determining how much HO-6 coverage you need.
Like homeowners insurance, HO-6 dwelling coverage provides coverage for all the structural elements inside your individual unit, including walls, floors, ceiling, built-in cabinets and bathtubs. Your condo association should have insurance coverage for the building itself that covers the exterior, shared hallways, common areas and grounds. To determine how much coverage you need, speak to your condominium association to find out current costs for building a new unit. This will provide an estimate of current construction, materials and labor costs.
Like renters insurance, this coverage protects all the stuff you own that’s located in the condo. This includes clothing, electronics, furnishings, dishes and more. How much coverage you need is based on how much money it would take to purchase replacement items for all your belongings.
If someone gets hurt inside your condo and you are found responsible, this coverage will pay for your expenses if they sue you. When deciding how much coverage to get, think about what assets you have to cover these expenses yourself. If you don’t have many assets, you may want to get a higher amount of coverage so you aren’t left paying hefty debts.
HO-6 coverage also usually includes medical coverage that pays some expenses for anyone hurt on your property. A typical coverage amount for medical coverage is $5,000. HO-6 policies should also have coverage for “loss of use” or “additional living expenses,” meaning it will reimburse you for living expenses if you cannot live in your condo while it’s under repair. Talk with your insurance agent to determine the limits for this particular coverage, as many insurers pay 20–30% of your dwelling coverage amount for loss of use.
Your condominium association should have its own insurance policy that will cover the building, shared walls and grounds, along with liability for incidents that occur in common areas. Some policies cover the “bare walls” of your unit, including the walls, ceiling and floors, while others provide “all in” coverage, wherein it pays for your unit’s construction and fixtures.
Don’t hesitate to ask your condo association for a copy of their policy — it’s your right to see it. This helps determine what coverage you need for yourself, from full HO-6 coverage to renters-style coverage that covers just your personal belongings. Expect to see coverage for the following:
Even the best homeowners insurance companies do not cover damage from all incidents unless you have specific policies for those events. Perils not typically covered by an HO-6 policy include:
HO-6 insurance policies do not cover flooding or damage due to a sewer backup, so you will need additional coverage specifically for those hazards.
Most popular insurance companies that offer homeowners and renters insurance also offer HO-6 policies. It’s essential to shop around with at least three companies and compare insurance quotes to find the best rates for your HO-6 insurance policy. Some of the top insurance companies offering HO-6 policies include:
Shopping for an HO-6 insurance policy can be confusing, so these frequently asked questions about HO-6 policies can provide some of the basic information on these policies.
As with most other insurance policies, how much you pay for an HO-6 policy will depend on several personal factors such as your specific coverage amounts, your chosen deductible, the location of your condo and the age of your condo. According to MoneyGeek’s study, the average policy cost is approximately $500 per year, but can range from $300 to $1,000 or more.
The difference between condo (HO-6) insurance and homeowners (HO-3) insruance, is that with the latter, coverage includes the home’s entire structure, including any attached items such as a garage, front porch and back deck. An HO-6 policy only covers the interior of your specific unit.
If you finance your condo purchase, it’s likely the mortgage lender will require HO-6 coverage. Even if your unit is paid for, your condo association may require you to carry HO-6 coverage.
Yes and no. An HO-6 insurance policy does provide coverage for sudden events like a burst pipe, but it does not cover flooding. It also likely won’t cover water damage resulting from a failure to maintain components in your condo, such as a leaky bathtub or washing machine that damages the flooring.
About Karon Warren
For more than 20 years, Karon Warren has covered home topics such as insurance, mortgages, home improvement and home decor. A graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, Karon is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
