Who's responsible? A sample HOA responsibility guide
When something wears out or gets damaged, owners want to know: is it the association's job or mine, and whose insurance pays? Here's a sample for a typical condominium association.
This is a sample, not a rule. Every association sets its own responsibilities in its declaration and rules, and the declaration controls. Boards should adopt their own version, ideally with their attorney and insurance agent, and share it with owners.
In townhome and single-family communities, owners often take care of and insure their own roof, walls and structure, and the association covers common areas only.
Everyday upkeep
Who takes care of things as they age and wear out. Insurance doesn't cover normal wear and tear.
The association takes care of
- Roof, exterior walls, siding and foundation
- Hallways, stairwells, lobby and amenities
- Parking lot, walkways, landscaping and snow removal
- Main water and sewer lines
- Building electrical service and central heating
You take care of
- Everything inside your unit: paint, flooring, cabinets and appliances
- Furnace, water heater or air conditioning serving only your unit
- Plumbing and wiring serving only your unit
- Windows and doors (routine upkeep and replacement)
- Your balcony or patio surface
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Anything you've added or upgraded
When something gets damaged
- 1
The association's insurance covers the building.
- 2
Your insurance covers your unit's finishes, upgrades and belongings.
- 3
If the damage started in your unit or you caused it, you pay the association's deductible.
Hail, wind or wildfire
- Building and other units:
- Association's insurance; association pays the deductible
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance
Pipe bursts in a shared wall, no one's fault
- Building and other units:
- Association's insurance
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance
Your pipe freezes because the heat was off
- Building and other units:
- Association's insurance; you pay the deductible
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance
Your washer or dishwasher hose leaks
- Building and other units:
- Association's insurance; you pay the deductible
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance
Your contractor damages something
- Building and other units:
- You pay (or your contractor)
- Inside your unit:
- You (or your contractor)
Your guest, tenant or pet causes damage
- Building and other units:
- You pay; you can seek repayment from them
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance
Someone is hurt in a common area
- Building and other units:
- Association's liability insurance
- Inside your unit:
- —
Someone is hurt inside your unit
- Building and other units:
- —
- Inside your unit:
- Your insurance (liability)
Some associations split a deductible among the owners whose units were damaged. Check your association's insurance and deductible policy.
Terms, in plain English
- Master policy
- The association's insurance on the building.
- HO-6 policy
- Your condo owner's insurance.
- Deductible
- The amount paid before insurance kicks in. For an association's policy, this is often many thousands of dollars.
- Loss assessment coverage
- Part of your HO-6 that helps when the association bills you for a deductible or other shared loss.
This sample is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your association's declaration, rules and insurance policies control.
Last updated: November 2026
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