Water, Water, Everywhere! Oh, No!

B.E. from Tolland County, Connecticut writes:

While I am thankful for the mild winter, my condo recently took a lot of damage from water. Apparently, ice dams had formed in the gutter while I was away on vacation and as it melted, water seeped in to the ceiling of my bedroom, causing the ceiling to collapse over my bed and dresser. My bed was ruined, a great deal of clothing has been stained; even the floor of the bedroom looks like it will need to be replaced. I called the Property Manager to put in an insurance claim only to find out that water damage inside my unit is not covered by the condo’s Master Policy! Is that true?

Mister Condo replies:

That’s bad news, B.E.. Sorry for your loss. To answer your condo Master Policy question… In a word, “Yes”. Master Policy coverage is primarily used to protect the common elements of the condo. That includes building exteriors but does not usually include building interiors. That’s where homeowner’s insurance comes in. In our state, the most common type of insurance held by condo dwellers is called HO-6. I hope you had such a policy. If not, you’re sure to want one as that is the policy that would usually cover losses to the interior of a condominium. You should speak with your insurance agent to discuss your coverage and how to make the claim. And be sure to write a letter to your Board to ask them to address the ice damming problem in your gutter. You shouldn’t have to come home from vacation to find a mess like that.