Home insurance · Connecticut condos

Condo insurance in CT: what your HOA master policy doesn't cover

October 2026 · 4 min read

"My HOA has insurance, so I'm covered." It's the most expensive sentence in condo ownership. Your association's master policy protects the building — the roof, the hallways, the elevator. It generally stops at your front door.

What's actually yours to insure

Depending on your association's bylaws ("walls-in" vs. "all-in"), you're typically responsible for everything from the drywall inward: flooring, kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, built-ins, and all your belongings. That's what an HO-6 condo policy covers — and it's usually surprisingly affordable.

Three coverages condo owners skip (and regret)

1. Loss assessment. If the building takes a hit that exceeds the master policy — a big storm, a fire in a common area — the association can bill every unit owner a special assessment. Loss assessment coverage pays your share, up to your limit.

2. Water backup. In multi-unit buildings, one neighbor's burst pipe becomes everyone's problem. Standard HO-6 policies often exclude or cap water backup — an endorsement fixes it cheaply.

3. Enough personal property coverage. Walk through your unit and add it up: furniture, electronics, clothes, kitchen gear. Most people underestimate by half.

The 10-minute check

Pull out your HOA bylaws (or ask us — we read these all day) and your current HO-6 declarations page. If the two don't line up, there's a gap, and gaps are where claims get denied.