What Coverage Do YOU Need? A Guide for HOA Individual Owners

Living in a professionally managed HOA community comes with plenty of benefits, from shared amenities to maintained landscapes. But while your HOA provides a master insurance policy to cover the building and common spaces, that policy doesn’t extend to everything inside your unit. 

That’s where your own homeowners insurance comes in.

At RowCal, we help both HOA boards and individual homeowners understand the ins and outs of insurance responsibilities. In this guide, we’ll break down the exact coverage you need as an individual owner, so you’re never left guessing about your protection.

What Your HOA Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

Your HOA’s master insurance policy typically covers:

  • The building’s exterior (walls, roof, siding)

  • Common areas (lobbies, hallways, pools, gyms, landscaping)

  • Shared systems (like electrical or plumbing that serve multiple units)

  • Liability in shared areas (injuries in common spaces)

However, what’s not covered can be just as important:

  • Interior elements of your unit (drywall, cabinets, flooring, fixtures)

  • Personal belongings (furniture, clothing, electronics)

  • Personal liability (incidents or injuries inside your home)

The gap between the master policy and your individual needs is where your HO-6 policy steps in.

The Essentials: What Your HO-6 Policy Should Include

To properly protect your home, every HOA individual owner should ensure their personal policy includes the following key coverages:

1. Dwelling Coverage

Your policy should cover everything inside your unit, from drywall and built-in cabinets to upgrades and custom finishes. The amount you need depends on your HOA’s policy type:

  • Bare Walls: You’ll need full interior coverage.

  • All-In (Single Entity): Some original interior features may be covered, but you’ll still need protection for upgrades and betterments.

Ask your HOA for a copy of the master policy to know exactly what’s covered - and then insure everything else on your own policy.

2. Personal Property

Your policy should protect your possessions like furniture, electronics, clothing, and appliances. If a fire or theft damages or destroys your belongings, this coverage pays for repair or replacement.

Keep an up-to-date inventory with receipts or photos to simplify the claims process.

3. Liability Protection

If someone gets injured inside your unit, or if water damage from your kitchen leaks into a neighbor’s condo, this covers medical bills, legal fees, and damages.

Recommended Limit: At least $300,000 in coverage (or more if you have high-value assets).

4. Loss of Use

If a covered incident (like a fire) makes your home uninhabitable, this helps pay for temporary housing, meals, and transportation while repairs are underway.

Special Coverage to Consider

Loss Assessment Coverage

If the HOA faces a large claim (e.g., roof damage from a storm) that exceeds the master policy’s limits, they may issue a special assessment to cover the difference. This coverage pays your share of that cost.

Common Scenarios:

  • Natural disasters affecting shared property

  • Legal settlements involving the HOA

  • Major repair shortfalls

Flood & Earthquake Insurance (If applicable)

Standard HO-6 policies (and most HOA master policies) do not cover flood or earthquake damage. If your area is prone to these risks, it’s worth adding this protection.

Umbrella Insurance

Adds an extra layer of liability protection beyond your base policy. It’s especially useful for owners with significant assets or increased exposure (e.g. pet ownership, frequent guests).

Staying on Top of Your Coverage

Review Your Policy Annually

Big purchases? Renovations? HOA policy updates? Your personal coverage should evolve as things change.

Keep a Home Inventory

Create a list or video walkthrough of your belongings so you can quickly verify losses and streamline your claims.

Understand Your Deductibles

Make sure you have the funds to cover your HO-6 deductible - and be aware you could also be responsible for part of the HOA’s master policy deductible.

Don’t Assume - Ask

Still unsure? Contact your HOA manager or insurance provider to clarify your responsibilities and coverage options.

Final Thoughts from RowCal

Your HOA’s insurance isn’t enough on its own, and not having the right personal coverage could leave you exposed to costly gaps. At RowCal, we believe in giving homeowners the tools and knowledge they need to confidently protect their homes and assets.

Whether you’re shopping for an HO-6 policy or helping your community understand what’s required, our team is here to support you.

Need help navigating coverage or coordinating education for your HOA? Reach out to RowCal today. We make HOA management and ownership smarter, simpler, and more secure.

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