8735 Dunwoody Place STE R Atlanta, GA 30350
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Your HOA has a master policy. But it probably doesn't cover your interior walls, yourbelongings, or your personal liability. HO-6 condo insurance fills those gaps.
~$500–$700/yr nationally.
HOA master policies typically cover common areas and exterior only.
Loss Assessment coverage protects against HOA special assessments.
"Bare walls-in" vs. "all-in" HOA coverage — knowing the difference saves money and avoids gaps.
Covers your interior walls, floors, ceilings, fixtures, and built-in appliances — the parts of the unit you own. Whether this is needed depends on whether your HOA has a “bare walls-in” or “all-in” master policy.
Covers your furniture, electronics, clothing, and belongings against covered perils. HOA master policies never cover personal property.
If your condo unit becomes uninhabitable, this pays for temporary housing and increased living expenses during repairs.
Covers your legal liability for injuries or property damage — including if a water leak from your unit damages your neighbor’s unit below.
Pays for minor injuries sustained by guests in your unit, regardless of fault.
If the HOA makes a special assessment following a major loss not fully covered by the master policy, your individual HO-6 policy can cover your share of that assessment. Critical for high-rise and large condo
communities.
Covers water damage from backed-up drains or sump failure — typically excluded from standard policies.
If you’ve renovated your unit — new counters, flooring, fixtures — a standard bare-walls HOA policy won’t cover those upgrades. This coverage protects your improvements
Ensures your belongings are replaced at today’s prices rather than depreciated ACV. Critical given how fast electronics and appliances depreciate.
A pipe burst in the unit above Patricia’s Atlanta condo. Water damage destroyed her kitchen renovation — new cabinets, backsplash tile, and hardwood floors she had installed herself. Her HOA master policy was “bare walls-in” — it covered the original drywall but not any improvements. Her HO-6 policy? She had chosen the cheapest version, with no improvements and betterments rider. Cost of the renovation: $24,000. Insurance payout: $4,100.
“I didn’t even know there was such a thing as ‘bare walls-in.’ My agent never explained it.”
Condo insurance is the most misunderstood type of residential insurance. Most condo owners assume the HOA’s master policy protects them inside their unit. In many cases, it doesn’t cover a single thing inside your four walls.
This guide explains the “bare walls-in” vs. “all-in” distinction, walks through what your HO-6 policy needs to cover, and explains loss assessment coverage — one of the most important and most overlooked protections for condo owners in shared communities.
A “bare walls-in” HOA master policy covers the physical structure of the building — exterior walls, roof, foundation, and common areas — but nothing inside your unit. Your personal HO-6 policy must cover interior walls, fixtures, appliances, and all improvements you’ve made.
An “all-in” HOA master policy covers the original fixtures, cabinets, and finishes inside each unit. This reduces what your individual HO-6 needs to cover — but it still doesn’t cover your personal property, personal liability, or any improvements you’ve added above the original finish.
If your HOA faces a large loss not fully covered by its master policy, it may pass the remaining cost to individual unit owners as a “special assessment.” Loss assessment coverage on your HO-6 policy can cover your share of that assessment, often up to $50,000 or more.
If water from another unit damages your unit, coverage depends on whose negligence caused it. Your liability coverage applies if you cause the leak. Your personal property coverage may apply to your belongings regardless of fault. Your interior dwelling coverage applies to your walls and floors. Review your policy carefully.
Yes — and HOA-required minimums are often far less coverage than you actually need. HOA requirements typically only mandate liability and a minimum personal property limit. Make sure your coverage matches your actual risk, not just the HOA’s minimum.
