One Broken Window, Two Policies Involved
A storm sends debris into a high-rise condo window along Fort Lauderdale’s coastline. Glass breaks, wind and rain enter the unit, and now two separate insurance policies need to sort out exactly who pays for what. Floridian Coastal Insurance regularly walks unit owners through this exact split, since it rarely works the way people assume.
Where the Master Policy Typically Stops
A condo association’s master windstorm policy generally covers the building’s exterior structure, common areas, and sometimes the windows themselves depending on how the building’s governing documents define “structure.” This is the first thing worth checking, since coverage varies significantly building to building.
Where the Unit Owner’s Policy Picks Up
- Interior damage. Water intrusion damaging flooring, drywall, and personal belongings inside the unit typically falls to the owner’s own HO-6 policy, not the master policy.
- Window replacement, sometimes. Depending on the association’s declarations, windows may be classified as part of the unit rather than the building, shifting responsibility to the owner.
- Loss of use. If the unit becomes temporarily uninhabitable, additional living expense coverage under the personal policy generally addresses that gap.
Why Reading Your Association’s Documents Actually Matters
The declarations and bylaws for a specific building determine exactly where the line falls between “building” and “unit.” Two buildings a block apart along the coast can define this differently, which means an owner in one building may have significantly different exposure than a friend in another.
A Practical Step Before the Next Storm
Pulling your association’s governing documents and confirming exactly how windows and other borderline structures are classified is worth doing before hurricane season, not during a claim. Floridian Coastal Insurance can help review that language alongside your own policy. Reach out through Floridian Coastal Insurance to make sure both pieces actually line up.
