Renters insurance
A renters policy (HO-4) covers your personal property, additional living expenses if the unit is unlivable, and liability if you cause damage to others. It does not cover the building; that is the landlord's policy. Water damage is typically covered when it is sudden and accidental, for example when a pipe bursts in the wall or a neighbor's overflow soaks your floor. Flood and long-term leaks are usually excluded. Always check the declarations page, because the dwelling is not yours to insure.
If you cause the leak, such as an overflowing tub, the liability portion may pay for your landlord's or a neighbor's damage.
Condo (HO-6) insurance
The association's master policy usually covers the building structure and common areas. Your HO-6 covers what the master policy does not: items inside your unit, upgrades you made and, depending on your documents, parts of the interior. Read the declaration of condominium to see where the association's responsibility ends. HO-6 also commonly includes loss assessment coverage, which can help if the association levies a special charge after a loss.
Water from an upstairs unit
This is the most common high-rise scenario in Florida. If water from unit 804 pours into unit 704, your own insurer typically pays for your covered damage first and may then pursue the other party; the upstairs owner's liability coverage may respond if they were negligent. If the source was a common pipe, the association may be responsible. Tell building management immediately, and do not wait for the other party to act.
Mitigation cannot wait on blame. Start drying right away; see the emergency first-hour steps.
Who owns what in a Florida condo
Florida's condominium law makes the association responsible for maintaining common elements (see Fla. Stat. 718.113), which generally includes the roof, structure and common pipes. Flooring and interior finishes are generally the unit owner's responsibility, so a roof leak can leave you paying for floors even when the association is at fault. Owners often report that the association is slow to act and then objects when they hire a crew without its approval. Do not wait: document the leak, send written notice to the association, and start drying. Check your declaration of condominium for a waiver of subrogation clause, which can limit your claim through the association's insurer. If the leak keeps returning, hold off on permanent repairs until it is confirmed fixed, for example by a roofer's test after heavy rain. Consult a Florida attorney for your specific documents.
What to do in a condo or rental
- Contact building management or your landlord and ask for water shutoff. In many units, the shutoff is a unit valve; learn where it is before an emergency.
- Photograph damage and belongings.
- Report the loss to your own insurer and get a claim number.
- Call a restoration company that works with high-rises and building rules; confirm elevator and parking arrangements.
- Keep every receipt, and save copies of notices sent to the association.
Our insurance claim guide walks through the paperwork, and the homeowners coverage guide explains the basic exclusions all of these policies share.
Serving Florida's condo markets
High-rise and mid-rise buildings are common in Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and Tampa. In dense buildings, one failure can spread across several floors, so call early. See South Florida for local coverage. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does renters insurance cover water damage?
It generally covers your belongings after sudden, accidental water damage, such as a burst pipe, but not flood or the building itself.
Who pays when an upstairs neighbor floods my condo?
Your HO-6 insurer typically pays for your covered damage and may seek recovery from the neighbor's liability insurance. If a common pipe failed, the association may be responsible.
Does condo insurance cover water damage inside my unit?
HO-6 covers items and, depending on your documents, parts of the interior, while the association's master policy covers the building structure.
Should I call building management first?
Yes, to stop the water and report the loss, then call your insurer and a restoration company.