Water damage in a Houston condo creates a coverage question that does not exist in single-family homes: whose insurance pays? Your individual condo policy (HO-6), the HOA’s master policy, or both? The answer depends on where the water came from, which part of the structure was damaged, and how your condo association’s governing documents define the boundary between unit-owner responsibility and HOA responsibility.
As a restoration company that responds to condo water damage emergencies across Houston — from high-rise buildings in the Galleria area to townhome-style communities in Katy and Sugar Land — we see these coverage disputes regularly. Understanding the basics before damage happens saves time, money, and conflict during the claims process.
Your individual condo insurance policy (HO-6) covers your personal property (furniture, electronics, clothing, appliances), improvements and upgrades you made to the unit interior (upgraded flooring, custom cabinetry, renovated bathrooms), liability if you cause damage to common areas or other units, and Additional Living Expenses if you are displaced during restoration. Your HO-6 policy also typically covers the interior finishes of your unit — drywall, paint, flooring, fixtures — from the studs inward. This is sometimes called “studs-in” or “walls-in” coverage.
The HOA’s master insurance policy covers the building’s common structural elements — exterior walls, roof, foundation, common hallways, elevators, shared plumbing, and shared HVAC systems. The master policy comes in two forms that dramatically affect your individual coverage needs.
Bare walls-in coverage means the master policy covers only the structural skeleton — framing, exterior walls, roof, common areas. Everything inside your unit (drywall, flooring, fixtures, cabinets, appliances) is your responsibility under your HO-6 policy.
All-in or single-entity coverage means the master policy covers the unit as originally built, including standard drywall, flooring, and fixtures. Your HO-6 policy covers your personal property and any upgrades or improvements you made beyond the original build-out.
Your condo’s CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions) define which coverage model applies. Review this document before water damage happens — the distinction determines who pays for what during restoration.
A pipe bursts inside your unit wall. Your HO-6 policy covers your personal property and interior finishes. If the pipe is part of the building’s shared plumbing infrastructure (a main supply line running through your wall), the HOA master policy may cover the pipe repair and structural damage. If the pipe is your unit-specific plumbing (a branch line serving only your unit), your HO-6 covers everything.
Water from the unit above leaks into your condo. Your HO-6 policy covers your damaged property and interior. You file on your own policy. Your insurance company may pursue subrogation against the upstairs owner’s liability coverage to recover costs. The important thing: do not wait for the neighbor’s insurance to pay — file on your own policy and let the insurers sort out responsibility.
A common-area pipe failure floods multiple units. The HOA master policy typically covers the pipe repair and structural damage to common elements. Each affected unit owner files on their HO-6 policy for personal property and interior damage. The HOA’s insurance company and your insurance company coordinate.
Flooding from an external source. Standard HO-6 and master policies exclude flood damage. Houston condo owners in flood-prone areas need individual flood insurance, and the HOA should carry flood coverage on the building. Flood damage from Hurricane Harvey affected thousands of Houston condos whose owners and HOAs lacked adequate flood coverage.
Notify your HOA and building management immediately. They need to shut off shared water supply if a common pipe is involved, access the unit above or below for assessment, and activate their own insurance claim process for building damage.
Document everything. Photograph and video all damage in your unit — walls, floors, ceilings, personal belongings — before any cleanup.
Call a restoration company. Professional water extraction and drying should begin within hours, not days. In a condo building, water from an upper-floor unit travels through the structure into lower units via gravity, electrical chases, and plumbing penetrations. A restoration company experienced with multi-unit buildings can assess the full extent of water migration and set up drying across affected units.
File your HO-6 claim. Contact your insurance company promptly. Provide documentation and the restoration company’s assessment. Your claim covers your personal property and your unit’s interior finishes.
Yes. Your HO-6 condo insurance covers your personal property and interior damage regardless of who caused the water. File a claim on your own policy — do not wait for your neighbor’s insurance to pay. Your insurer may pursue subrogation against the neighbor’s liability coverage to recover what they pay on your claim.
Sudden, accidental water damage is covered. Gradual leaks that develop over time — a slowly dripping pipe fitting you or your HOA knew about and did not repair — may be denied as maintenance-related damage. The distinction between sudden and gradual is the same for condo insurance as for any property insurance in Texas.
Both may share responsibility. The HOA master policy covers common structural elements and shared building systems. Your HO-6 policy covers your personal property and unit interior. Review your CC&Rs to understand where the HOA’s responsibility ends and yours begins. For damage involving both common and individual elements — such as a shared pipe that floods your unit — both policies may be involved.
