Does condo insurance cover fire?

How condo insurance covers fire

The following condo insurance coverages may help protect you if your condo is damaged by fire.

Dwelling

Your condo association (also known as your homeowners association or HOA) will typically only cover damage to the exterior of your condo. But your condo policy's dwelling coverage may pay to repair your unit if your property is damaged in a fire, including cabinets, countertops, and flooring, up to your coverage limits.

Personal property

Your condo association's insurance policy won't cover damage to your belongings, but your condo policy's personal property coverage may pay to replace your personal belongings damaged by fire, such as furniture, electronics, and clothing, up to your coverage limits. Learn more about how personal property coverage functions.

Loss of use

If there's a fire in your condo, making it uninhabitable, your condo policy's loss of use coverage may pay for you to live elsewhere while your unit is being repaired or rebuilt. Loss of use coverage can also pay for meal expenses above what you normally spend and other services.

How to determine who's responsible for fire damage

The condo association's insurance policy typically only covers shared areas, such as hallways, elevators, party rooms, tennis/pickleball courts, and other spaces utilized by the condo community. There may be instances where the condo association's master policy may pay for fire damage to standard fixtures in your condo unit, such as fireplaces, bathtubs, or patios.

In some cases, the condo association's and your personal policy may share responsibility, such as fire damage to heating and cooling systems. Check your condo association's insurance policy to find out how you may be covered in the case of fire, and then review your condo insurance policy for further details. The language of the condo association's governing documents will typically establish the obligations and responsibilities of each party.

Tips for condo fire prevention

The following actions can help mitigate the fire risk in your unit.

• Obtain a fire inspection: While a home fire inspection may not be mandatory, it can identify significant fire hazards that you may not have known
• Store extinguishers on every level of your condo: You have a better chance of preventing a fire from spreading if you have an extinguisher nearby
• Be safe when cooking: Stay attentive when cooking; never leave the kitchen area or the food unattended
• Check electrical connections: Be aware of outdated wiring and overloaded outlets

Learn more about preventing a fire in your home and find out what to do if a fire occurs.

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