Glossary

Bare walls coverage

A condo master policy type that insures only the structure and common areas, leaving everything from the interior surfaces inward to the unit owner.

Also called: bare walls master policy, bare walls condo coverage

Bare walls coverage is the narrowest type of condo master policy. The association insures the structure (framing, exterior walls, roof, foundation) and the common elements, but little or nothing inside the individual units. Depending on the policy, even drywall may be the owner's responsibility, along with flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures and finishes.

After a fire or burst pipe, the association's insurer pays to repair the shell, and your own policy must pay to restore the inside. Say your unit holds $90,000 of finishes and fixtures (hypothetical). Under a bare-walls master you would need about that much dwelling coverage (Coverage A) on your HO-6 policy, plus contents and liability. Under an all-in master you would need far less. Mortgage lenders also check the HO-6 amount.

The usual mistake is carrying a small default dwelling limit on the HO-6 because the unit is "just a condo." Read the association's declaration, ask whether the master is bare walls, and have your agent size Coverage A to the cost of rebuilding the interior, not the unit's market price. Add loss assessment coverage coverage too. See the HO-6 guide.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Master policy The property and liability policy a condominium or homeowners association buys for the shared structure and common areas, paid for through dues. Walls-in coverage Condo unit-owner coverage for everything from the interior wall surfaces inward, which is the part of the unit the association's master policy does not insure. All-in coverage A condo master policy type insuring the building plus each unit's interior finishes and owner upgrades, leaving mainly belongings and liability to the owner. HO-6 (unit-owners form) The condo owner's policy: it covers belongings, the parts of the unit the association's policy leaves to you, loss assessments, liability and loss of use. Loss assessment coverage Coverage for your share of a bill that a condo or homeowners association charges owners after a covered loss that its own insurance does not fully pay. Dwelling coverage (Coverage A) The part of a homeowners policy that pays to repair or rebuild the house itself, including attached structures such as a garage, porch or deck.

Related guides

Co-op apartment insurance Co-op shareholders insure improvements, belongings and liability, usually on an HO-6, while the corporation insures the building. Your lease sets the line. Condo master policies: what the association covers and what you cover How bare-walls, all-in and in-between master policies divide a condo between association and owner, who pays the master deductible, and what to ask for. HO-6 condo insurance explained: what it covers and how much you need What the HO-6 unit-owners form covers, how it fits with the association's master policy, how to size dwelling and loss assessment limits, and lender rules. Townhouse insurance: HO-3 or HO-6? Whether a townhouse needs an HO-3 or an HO-6 depends on who owns and insures the roof and walls, not on its style. Here is how to tell from your documents.