Condo Master Policy vs. Unit Owners Policy
Master Policy
Florida statue 718.111 clearly defines how insurance coverage must be provided under the condominium master policy and the individual unit owner policies. The statute applies to every residential condominium in the state, regardless of the date of its declarations. Nothing in chapter 718 relating to insurance applies for a non-residential condominium.
In condominiums where there is only one unit in a free standing building the association is not required to insure that building if the condominium declarations require the unit owner to obtain adequate insurance on the condominium property.
The condominium board may satisfy the requirement to obtain “adequate insurance” if the policy contains a reasonable deductible as determined by the board.
The master policy shall provide primary coverage for the following: All portions of the condominium property as originally installed or replacement of like kind and quality, in accordance with the original plans and specifications. This includes items such as drywall, sheetrock, unfinished walls, unfinished floors, interior doors, interior non-load bearing walls, closed doors, closed rods, bath tubs, sinks, and toilets as long as items such as these were initially installed by the builder or are replacements of like kind and quality.
Unit Owners
The law provides that the following are excluded from the property and casualty insurance maintained by the condominium association: Floor coverings, wall coverings, and ceiling coverings; electrical fixtures, water heaters water filters appliances built in cabinets and counter tops, window treatments, including curtains, drapes, blinds and hardware.
Unit owners are also responsible for any interior additions and upgrades that are not of like kind of quality to the original interior building items.
Air conditioning units, no matter where located are the primary insurance responsibility of the association.
Where the unit owner’s policy covers the same property that is also covered by the master policy, the unit owner’s policy shall be excess over the amount recoverable under the master policy.
(Disclaimer this blog is meant to be a guide. For full information please review all Florida statues.)