Condo Insurance: The Basics

Condo (or co-op) insurance safeguards your personal belongings and the parts of the building you own against most known disasters - such as fire , lightning etc.

Unlike covering a house, condominium ownership requires two separate homeowner policies:
 
   One of your own.
   One provided by the condo/co-op board.
      

Personal policies can cover:
 
    Third party injury liability.
    Property damage possibly caused by you.
    Loss of personal possessions.
    Loss of structural improvements.
    and additional living expenses incurred due to a
     displacement (detailed in your policy) from your condo
     that forces you to move out temporarily.


Master Policies (provided by the condo/co-op board) tend to cover:
 
    Liability.
 
   Physical damage coverage for areas of the building that
     you share with neighbors, such as elevators, hallways
     and the laundry room. Take the time to understand
     which structural parts of your home are covered by the
     condo/co-op association and which are not.
 
 

Condo owners have other coverage available, including:
 
        Flood or Earthquake.
       If you've chosen a location prone to these natural forces
      you'll probably be required to purchase these
      insurances separately.
      Flood insurance is available through FEMA's National
      Flood Insurance Program.
 
       Unit Assessment.
       Reimburses your share of an assessment charged to
      unit owners for losses involving common areas of the
      building.
 
       Water Back-up.
       Insures against damage caused by the back-up of
      sewers or drains.
 
       Floater or Endorsement.
       Have a taste for furs and expensive jewelry? You might
      consider adding this coverage because standard policies
      generally offer an insufficient theft limit.
 
       Umbrella Policy.
       A cost effective way to get broader liability coverage
      and higher compensation limits.