What associations typically insure
Association master policies in Florida typically cover:
- Common elements: exterior walls, roofs, hallways, lobbies, elevators, parking structures, pool decks, clubhouses
- Limited common elements: balconies, patios, assigned parking (depending on the declaration)
- Building systems: elevators, pumps, boilers, central HVAC, fire suppression
- Grounds: landscaping, fencing, gates, lighting
What's covered by the unit owner's HO-6 policy varies by declaration: typically "bare walls" (owner covers everything inside the unit's drywall) to "all-in" (association covers fixtures and finishes as originally installed).
Why association claims are commonly underpaid
- Scope fragmentation. Field adjusters document unit-by-unit damage but miss envelope / common-element scope.
- Matching statute (Fla. Stat. 626.9744) ignored. Discontinued cladding, roofing, or fixture lines trigger continuous-area replacement: often forcing full-building scope instead of unit-by-unit.
- Code upgrades omitted. Post-Surfside, Florida's structural and life-safety code landscape has shifted. Post-loss rebuilds often trigger code upgrades across common elements.
- Loss of use of common amenities. Pool, clubhouse, gym closure creates a Loss of Use / Fair Rental Value claim that's often forgotten.
- Coordination failures. Board, property manager, and unit owners submit conflicting documentation; the carrier uses the inconsistency to cap the claim.
How Ocean Point handles association claims
- Board engagement. We work directly with the board and property manager to coordinate documentation.
- Declaration review. The association declaration (condo documents) controls what is "common element" vs. "unit-owner property": this governs everything.
- Full-building scope documentation. Matterport or drone capture of every common element, every affected unit.
- Matching and code analysis for all affected materials.
- Unit-owner coordination: often unit owners have parallel HO-6 claims; we help align.
- Escalation: appraisal (most association policies include appraisal clauses), DFS mediation, or CRN.
Common pitfalls
- Signing a release too early: an association may release a claim while unit owners still have unresolved damage
- Missing the 1-year notice deadline on new claims (Fla. Stat. 627.70132)
- Failing to invoke the 18-month supplemental window when scope gaps are identified
- Using the association's insurance agent as the claim advisor: the agent is not a licensed public adjuster and has relationship incentives with the carrier
Who leads association claims
Eli Goins (FL DFS #P159790) leads HOA, condo association, and mixed-use building claims. Ocean Point represents Florida associations ranging from small 6-unit complexes to 200+ unit master-associations.