Updated: May 6, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
HO-6 insurance covers your condo's interior structure, personal property, liability and living expenses if your unit becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss.
Your HOA's master policy covers the building's exterior and shared spaces but does not cover anything inside your individual unit's walls, floors or cabinets.
An HO-6 policy covers your individual unit from the walls in, while the HOA master policy covers shared structures and common areas like hallways, roofs and elevators.
An HO-6 policy is insurance designed specifically for condo unit owners, not for renters or standalone homeowners. HO-6 is not the same as HO-4, which covers renters, or HO-3, which covers standalone homeowners.
HO-6 covers personal property, liability and parts of the unit's interior structure, including floors, walls, cabinets and fixtures. The condo association's master policy covers the building's exterior, roof, hallways and shared structures, and HO-6 covers everything inside the unit.
HO-6 coverage starts where the HOA's master policy ends, usually at the interior surface of the unit's walls. The exact boundary depends on the HOA's master policy type: bare walls, single entity or all-in. The five main coverage categories in a standard HO-6 policy are listed below.
Personal property coverage protects belongings inside a condo unit, including furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchenware and appliances. Condo owners can choose between $20,000 to $50,000 in personal property coverage or more, with the option to choose actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV) reimbursement.
Interior structure coverage protects the interior surfaces and installed features of a condo unit: floors, walls, cabinets, countertops and built-in fixtures. If a covered peril damages kitchen cabinets or bathroom tile, the HO-6 policy pays to repair or replace them.
Liability protection covers legal expenses and settlements if someone is injured inside a condo unit and the owner is found responsible. A good starting point for personal liability coverage is $100,000, but limits can be increased depending on your lifestyle.
Medical payments to others coverage pays for minor medical expenses when a guest is injured in a condo, regardless of fault. Limits are usually $1,000 to $5,000 per person.
Loss of use coverage pays for temporary housing, meals and other costs if a covered peril makes a condo unit uninhabitable. Additional living expenses coverage typically reimburses the difference between normal costs and temporary living costs.
HO-6 policies use named-peril coverage for personal property, meaning only the perils explicitly listed in the policy are covered. HO-6 includes 16 named perils, the most common of which are mentioned below:
Fire and smoke damage coverage applies to damage originating inside or outside the condo unit, including damage to walls, flooring and personal belongings.
Theft coverage applies to stolen belongings from inside the condo and, in many cases, personal property stolen away from home up to a sublimit.
Vandalism coverage applies to intentional damage to the unit's interior or personal property caused by vandalism or malicious mischief.
Sudden and accidental water damage coverage applies to events such as a burst pipe or overflowing appliance. HO-6 does not cover gradual leaks or external flooding.
Windstorm and hail coverage applies to the unit's interior and personal property. Some coastal policies exclude wind damage and require a separate wind policy.
Other 16 named perils in total, including lightning, explosions, aircraft damage, riots and volcanic eruption.
While HO-6 provides broad protection for condo unit owners, several important exclusions apply. Understanding what HO-6 does not cover helps owners identify gaps and obtain supplemental coverage where needed.
HO-6 insurance does not cover the building's exterior structure, flood damage, earthquake damage, general wear and tear or certain structural gaps left by some HOA master policy types. Each exclusion is detailed below.
The condo association's master policy covers the building's exterior walls, roof, hallways, elevators and shared amenities. HO-6 does not duplicate this coverage and applies only to the unit's interior.
No HO-6 policy covers flood damage. Condo owners in flood-prone areas need a separate flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or a private insurer.
Earthquake damage is excluded from standard HO-6 policies. Condo owners in seismic zones such as California, Washington and Oregon need a separate earthquake policy or endorsement.
HO-6 does not cover maintenance-related issues, gradual deterioration or damage from neglect. Worn-out flooring, aging plumbing and pest infestations are the condo owner's responsibility.
Some HOA master policies use a bare walls structure that excludes interior finishes installed after original construction. Condo owners should review the HOA's master policy to confirm whether upgrades, paint and fixtures require higher HO-6 dwelling limits.
Condo owners who assume the HOA's master policy covers everything risk paying out of pocket for interior damage and personal property losses. The table below shows the coverage split between HO-6 and the master policy.
Interior (walls, floors, cabinets) | Covered | Sometimes (depends on master policy type) |
Personal Property | Covered | Not covered |
Exterior Structure (roof, siding) | Not covered | Covered |
Liability | Covered | Limited or shared |
Common Areas (hallways, lobby) | Not covered | Covered |
HO-6 is for condo owners, HO-4 is for renters and HO-3 is for standalone homeowners. The primary difference is structure coverage: HO-6 covers only the interior structure because the condo association handles the exterior, HO-4 covers no structure at all, and HO-3 covers both interior and exterior.
HO-4 | Renters | None | Covered |
HO-6 | Condo owners | Partial (interior only) | Covered |
HO-3 | Homeowners | Full (interior + exterior) | Covered |
HO-6 insurance is the only policy form designed to cover a condo owner's interior structure, personal property and liability. The HOA's master policy covers the building exterior and shared spaces, but anything inside the unit's walls is the owner's financial responsibility without HO-6. The most actionable next step is to review the HOA's master policy to confirm the coverage boundary, then compare HO-6 quotes from at least three insurers.
These frequently asked questions cover what an HO-6 policy includes, how "walls-in" coverage works and whether condo owners are required to carry their own insurance.
An HO-6 insurance policy is condo unit owner insurance that covers personal property, interior structure and liability. Unlike HO-3, which covers standalone homeowners, or HO-4, which covers renters, HO-6 is designed specifically for condo owners.
HO-6 insurance covers five main categories: personal property, interior structure, liability, medical payments to others and loss of use. Standard liability limits begin at $100,000, and personal property coverage typically ranges from $20,000 to $50,000. Loss of use coverage pays for temporary housing and related costs if a covered peril makes the unit uninhabitable.
Walls-in coverage refers to protection for the interior surfaces and installed features of a condo unit, such as floors, cabinets and built-in fixtures. The HOA master policy covers from the walls out, including the building's exterior and shared spaces. The exact boundary between the two policies depends on whether the master policy is bare walls, single entity or all-in.
No state mandates HO-6 by law, but many mortgage lenders require it and some HOAs include it in their bylaws. Even without a mortgage, carrying HO-6 protects personal property and liability exposure that the HOA's master policy does not cover.
HO-6 does not cover the building's exterior, roof, shared hallways or common areas. The HOA's master policy covers the building structure, and HO-6 covers only the unit's interior and the owner's personal property.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.
His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others.
Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
