HOA Property Claims

When buying a home with an HOA, the prior owners or leasing management must give you all the proper documentation so you understand the HOA rules and regulations. There should be documentation about your HOA insurance claims for your property and what the policy will not cover. Filing an HOA property claim may be tricky because so many people are covered in the same area. After all, everyone in your area is part of the HOA. But, if you have sustained damage to your property, then certain things should be covered under your HOA insurance policy.

Man protecting a wooden sculpture of a house from damage with his hands
Association property claims might be more difficult to settle since there are many people involved, but we are here to help.

Reviewing Your HOA Insurance Policy

Reviewing your HOA insurance policy is essential before purchasing your new home. The reason for reviewing your HOA insurance policy is to understand what is and is not covered under your policy. This can help you understand what the deductibles are in specific property damage claims. For example, in the case of a hurricane or tropical storm, you may have a higher deductible than water property damage being done to your home. You want to make sure that you are reviewing your HOA insurance policy often in case of any changes.

What You Want Your HOA Insurance Policy to Cover

Having an HOA insurance policy means you are covered in some instances. Some of these instances may include structural damage to your building, roof damage, damage to the community’s common areas like swimming pools, garages, tennis courts, and general liability. These primary insurance coverages will help protect you if you make an HOA property claim and even cover you in some other instance.

The front of a two-story house with a front door, three windows, and two garages
HOA insurance policies generally cover damage to the houses themselves and also common areas, such as recreation centers, sports courts, swimming pools, and more.

Review the HOA Bylaws

In the documentation given to you before deciding to be part of an HOA, there should be information on the bylaws of the HOA. HOA bylaws include how often meetings are scheduled, the number of members on the board, and establishing common areas. When you fully understand the bylaws of the HOA, then you will know if you are responsible for property damage or if the HOA insurance is responsible.

With the dues you are paying for the HOA, the HOA provides hazard and liability insurance. This insurance covers things like a shared roof, the structure of the building, and shared common areas. Even though you pay dues every month for this particular insurance, most homeowners have insurance for cases where the owner’s negligence to a visitor caused an injury. 

What Claims will my HOA file?

There are specific HOA property damage claims that the HOA will file if they happen in your home. Those claims include storm damage, hurricane damage, water damage, broken water lines, water heaters, broken sprinklers, roof damage, and damage to common areas. With the HOA insurance covering so many things, it may sound easy to file an HOA property claim if something happened to your home. Although, that is not always the case. Florida Home Claim can help you file an HOA property claim easily and help the process go as smoothly as possible. 

Denied HOA Claims 

Often, an HOA may file a claim with their insurance company, and the claim is denied. For example, when there is a natural disaster, like a hurricane, and it causes damage to multiple HOA condominiums. The insurance company may also say that the claims were not reported in time (many insurance companies want the claim to be reported within 72 hours of damage caused). Remember, the insurance company will want to pay out the least they can. With insurance companies paying out less money, this means that you may have to pay out of pocket for damage caused to your home. 

It is important to get a full description of why the HOA property damage claim is being denied. There are many instances when the insurance company says there is nothing they can do, but that is not always true. Suppose you are at your wits end in trying to get the insurance company to approve your HOA property claim. In that case, it may be time to get some legal help to show the insurance company you are serious. 

Contacting Legal Help

If your property damage claim is denied, you can contact Florida Home Claim, and we will provide the proper legal help to support you in your case. An experienced and professional lawyer specializing in HOA property damage claims can help fight for your rightful compensation. An HOA property damage lawyer can help you gather all the documentation you need to prove your case. There is no reason to go through the process alone, especially since your home is the one place that you should feel safe and secure. Everyone needs a roof over their head, and if yours was damaged due to property damage, that is not your fault. You deserve proper representation. 

If you have reviewed and went over your HOA insurance policy and know that you are covered for certain property damage, then you can file an HOA property claim. Do not let the insurance companies scare you into thinking there is no way out of your situation. If you have done your part in filing the claim in time and knowing what is covered, your insurance should pay for the damage. And, as always, if you have trouble, contact an experienced lawyer to get the help you deserve.

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