Property insurance, by definition, is a guarantee of compensation for a specific loss or damage to physical property or equipment. Within that broad and simplified explanation there is room for multiple interpretations—and more than enough confusion to go around. An all-volunteer condo or co-op board of directors may be intimidated just thinking about what constitutes adequate coverage, reasonable costs, and possible liabilities. Most board members are not insurance professionals, so it’s even more crucial that they recognize and understand some basic insurance terms and concepts, despite the challenge that may present.

Fortunately, there are experts in the field of insurance willing to share their knowledge and guide a motivated board, around the learning curve to a comfortable understanding of the best and most affordable options available in today’s market.

A Little History

The insurance industry is not a new business. As a matter of fact, the practice of spreading risk around to relive the burden on individuals dates back to the earliest Chinese and Babylonian societies. Property insurance as we know it today can be traced back to1666 in England; the first insurance company in Colonial America dates back to 1732. By 1752, Benjamin Franklin had standardized the practice of property insurance. However, the US federal government did not mandate any form of insurance until the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. After World War II, VA Home Loans were underwritten by the federal government to include an insurance clause as a means of protecting the banks and lending institutions against avoidable losses.

Where Does Responsibility Lie?

The best advice for board members in any community is to review their specific governing documents to determine their community’s obligation to insure, versus the obligation of individual residents to cover their own property. A mistake in this regard may ultimately result in liability for the individual board members.

George W. Keys, owner and president of Keys Claims Consultants in Naples, Florida echoes the same advice. Keys is a current board member of The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjustors (FAPIA), and has served twice as president for the organization. He cites common property versus unit owner’s responsibility to insure as the number-one issue to be determined. Keys explains how this issue is determined in Florida. “In an HOA, the HOA documents govern what is insured through the HOA policy. Florida Statute 718.111governs how an insurance company responds to a condominium claim.”

Jon Moller, of Brown & Brown Insurance in Fort Lauderdale, Florida lists the HO-6 as one of his top ten terms boards need to know and understand. “Part of the Insurance Services Office (ISO), Inc. homeowner’s forms portfolio, the HO-6 covers real property and personal property of the insured,” he says. Moller notes the HO-6 offers less real property coverage than the HO-3 since one function of the HO-6 is to coordinate coverage with a master policy covering structure and common areas. Moller and Brown & Brown Senior VP Joe Knapp both urge individual property owners and boards alike to get familiar with HO-6 policies, understanding what is covered and knowing what the deductibles/limits are. He points out the Condominium Property Act permits the board to require that unit owners purchase insurance covering their personal liability and compensatory damages to another unit.

Coordinating & Understanding Coverage

Once a board has a firm grasp of what areas need to fall under a master policy- and which areas fall to the unit owner or shareholder—it will be easier to coordinate adequate, affordable coverage for the property.

Moller points out two different methods insurance companies use to determine value and how losses will be paid. “Insurers consider replacement cost of a property item to be the cost to replace it with a new property of like kind,” explains Moller. “Actual cash value is replacement cost minus the accumulated depreciation for age and condition.

According to Moller, “If the documents require the HOA to insure the property as a whole and to replacement cost, it is imperative a proper replacement cost valuation be performed by a licensed professional to ensure adequate coverage and compliance with the HOA documents.” Loss of operating income must also be considered.

Deductibles & Exclusions

Another common insurance term is the deductible—that portion of loss borne by the association before the insurer is liable for payment. “Typically the lower the deductible, the higher the premium,” says Keys. If they feel comfortable with a large expense in the event a loss occurs, a board may opt for a high deductible to keep operating costs down. Of course, a potential downside of this approach is that a catastrophic event would likely result in significant out- of- pocket expenses for everybody the association. “These out-of- pocket costs are usually the result of premium shopping, underinsurance, and co-insurance penalties,” says Keys.

Different states have different ways to contain catastrophic losses. For example, Moller mentions a Calendar Year deductible offered in Florida where the deductible will only need to be met once in a given calendar year. In a state known for hurricanes and sinkholes, it’s easy to see the value in that option. It is also extremely important to determine if there are exclusions to coverage, such as windstorms, or ground water, and of course coverage needs will vary based a community’s geographic location and climate. While it’s a rare South Florida property that will feel the need for boiler insurance, for an HOA in Chicago, it’s absolutely crucial. Hurricane coverage? Not so much. Flood insurance will be desirable—and probably mandatory—for any waterfront property in any market.

Property insurance must be personalized to protect the property it is designed for. Knowing who is responsible for coverage, what deductibles must be met, and if any exclusions apply is only the beginning of board’s education on insurance. Experts in the field have much more to offer in both explanation and coverage.

There’s More???

Knowing the terms and type of coverage available is valuable knowledge for a board of directors in order to choose the best options for their particular needs. There are policies besides Workers Compensation which cover employment issues. For example, says, there’s Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). This type of insurance covers wrongful acts arising from the employment process. The most frequent types of claims covered under EPLI policies include wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation. In addition, these policies cover claims from a variety of other types of inappropriate workplace conduct, including (but not limited to) employment related defamation, invasion of privacy, failure to promote, deprivation of a career opportunity and negligent evaluation. The policies cover directors and officers, management personnel, and employees themselves. Common exclusions are for bodily injury, property damage, and intentional/dishonest acts. While EPLI is available as stand-alone coverage, it is frequently sold to communities as part of a management liability package.

According to insurance pros, Host Liquor Liability is another insurance term boards should be familiar with. This type of insurance covers exposure for serving liquor to clients, or employees at company functions—something to think about if your building or association makes its community room or clubhouse available for parties or other functions where alcohol may be served.

The potential for exposure exists online too. Modern technology and online management systems might create a cyber risk or the possibility of a breach of security. Experts caution clients on the financial and reputational damage possible when a system is compromised – and say that there are optional coverage products to account for those risks as well.

It seems there is a policy for everything from cocktails, to cyber space, to catastrophes—since acts of terror are insurable under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). It is easy to see how a board of directors could miss an important point, or become so concerned with covering all possible risk, the property would be insurance poor. When all is said and done there are Directors and Officers Insurance policies to offer protection for board members in the event of a law suit relative to defense cost, judgments, and settlements. D&O insurance covers the board members against legal action brought against them directly, including claims for ‘wrongful acts’ and the cost associated with rectifying. With proper D&O in place board members can concentrate on their duties to the best of their abilities.

Fidelity Insurance provides coverage if someone in control of the association’s funds embezzles or otherwise misuses those funds. There is even a formula to help set the recommended coverage amount. The rule of thumb is the amount of fidelity coverage should be equal to the amount contained in the capital reserve account plus three months of assessments.

Get Help!

The experts agree co-ops and condominiums must have property insurance with replacement cost determined by a licensed appraisal professional, general liability insurance, D&O coverage, crime and fidelity coverage, and equipment coverage. Additionally, coverage for environmental or pollution liability, and cyber liabilities are also recommended. The guidance of a reputable, insurance broker can help find a balance for affordable, sensible coverage.

Most brokers and agencies will provide educational meetings and/or seminars for associations to better understand all the options available and help a board determine a good fit. The consequences of not being aware of insurance basics may include gaps in coverage, overpaying, over or under insuring, and incorrect policy forms. Umbrella policies are also favored as a way to add an additional layer of security for co-ops and condos alike.

Properties and property insurance are not static fields; policies should be revisited and reviewed annually, and/or at policy renewal times. Rely on the experts in the insurance field for guidance and be sure to take any improvements to the property, or increased values into consideration, and be sure of any exclusions. Finally, be sure all replacement cost is aligned with the selected coverage, and check to see if any new codes, statues, or laws have been put into place since the last update.