Condo (HO-6) Insurance in South Carolina: What It Covers

What HO-6 Condo Insurance Covers in South Carolina

An HO-6 policy is built for condo and townhome owners. It covers the parts of your home the condo association master policy does not. The main pieces are:

• Interior of your unit. Drywall, flooring, cabinets, built-in fixtures, and other finishes inside your walls, often called walls-in coverage.
• Personal property. Your furniture, electronics, clothing, and belongings against theft, fire, and other covered perils.
• Personal liability. Protection if a guest is injured in your unit or you accidentally damage a neighbor unit.
• Loss of use. Temporary living costs if a covered loss makes your unit unlivable for a while.
• Loss assessment. Your share when the association bills owners for a covered loss beyond the master policy limits.

Your HO-6 Policy vs the Condo Association Master Policy

The single most important step in buying condo insurance in South Carolina is reading your association master policy, because it decides how much HO-6 coverage you need. Master policies come in two main forms. An all-in or walls-in master policy covers the original interior fixtures, so you need less dwelling coverage on your HO-6. A bare-walls or studs-out master policy stops at the framing, which means everything from the drywall inward is your responsibility and you need a higher dwelling limit.

Get a copy of the master policy and its declarations page before you buy. Matching your HO-6 to it is how you avoid both a coverage gap and paying twice for the same protection.

How Much Condo Insurance Costs in South Carolina

Independent analyses put the average South Carolina HO-6 premium between about $450 and $700 a year, with reported state averages near $579 to $655 depending on the source. That is roughly $40 to $60 a month. The biggest swing is location. A unit on the coast costs more than a comparable condo in Greenville or the Upstate, mostly because of windstorm exposure. Your coverage limits, deductible, and the construction of the building move the price too.

Coastal South Carolina Condos and the Wind Pool

Wind and water are the two coverages South Carolina condo owners most often have to handle separately. A standard HO-6 policy does not cover flood, so units in a flood zone need a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood market. On the coast, standard carriers may also exclude windstorm. Owners along the barrier islands and the Grand Strand often insure wind and hail through the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, the state wind pool that exists for coastal properties standard carriers will not cover. If your condo is inland in the Upstate, wind is usually included in the HO-6, but it is always worth confirming.

Get HO-6 condo coverage that matches your building

The Morgano Agency reads your HOA master policy, fills the right walls-in gaps, and shops multiple carriers so South Carolina condo owners are not over or under insured. We cover Greenville, the Upstate, and beyond.

Condo Insurance in South Carolina: Common Questions