Hurricane insurance coverage for Florida condo owners

March 08, 2013

As almost every Florida homeowner knows, hurricanes can quickly cause immense property damage. Regardless of whether the damage is the result of hammering winds or heavy rains, hurricanes often leave only destruction in their path. For instance, in the blink of an eye, a Florida homeowner can suffer severe roof damage - or in some cases, winds can rip roofs completely off.

Fortunately for many owners of single-family homes in Florida, hurricane insurance coverage is often available to protect the homeowners from many of the damages associated with these ruthless storms. However, when it comes to covering hurricane damage to Florida condominiums, it is generally not as simple given the unique ownership characteristics of condos.

Condo insurance policies

Ordinarily, a condo owner will simply own their individual condo and not the whole condominium complex - although they share ownership of the rest of the complex with the other condo owners.

Accordingly, condo associations will use a portion of association dues to obtain insurance to cover all of the property commonly owned, such as pool areas and exteriors. This policy, otherwise known as a master policy, will clearly outline what common areas and property are covered by the policy.

Conversely, individual condo owners will generally get a second policy that insures everything within the four walls of their individual unit - commonly referred to as covering everything from "the paint in." Thus, each policy covers different property, which is important to know when filing an insurance claim for condo damage.

Insurance issues related to hurricane damage to condos

When a hurricane hits a condominium complex, it is not unheard of for damage to occur to property covered by the master policy - which generally includes the drywall, roof and other structural elements - and simultaneously to property covered by the individual condo owner's policy. This can often lead to disputes between condo association boards and condo owners as to who is actually liable for the particular types of damage.

However, disputes with the condo board are often just the beginning of problems for condo owners who are looking to have their property repaired or replaced following a hurricane. For example, compelling the insurance company to provide payment for coverage due under a policy is often a whole other dilemma.

Accordingly, if you are a Florida condo owner who has suffered hurricane damage, it is important to contact an experienced condo insurance attorney in your area to ensure your rights under your policy are protected.

Article provided by Williams Law Association, P.A.
Visit us at www.floridainsuranceclaimlawyer.com