Is Meteorological damage insured in homeowners' associations?

Welcome back to Meridional's blog. Today we deal with the damages caused by meteorological phenomena (rain, snow, hail, etc.) in the communities of owners and if the insurance covers them.

In Andalusia, homeowners' association insurance is not a legal obligation. This does not mean that it should be overlooked and that it is highly recommended for the benefit of the community itself. On the other hand, taking out insurance does not always have to mean that you have peace of mind in the event of any damage that may be caused by these meteorological phenomena.

The impact of weather damage

Damage caused by these weather problems can lead to many conflicts, disagreements or misunderstandings between community members and the insurance company.

In fact, it happens more often than it may seem. Elements such as rain, hail or snow may or may not be covered in the insurance policy of a homeowners' association and to varying degrees. And there are not only variations in the type of atmospheric phenomenon that occurs, but also in the intensity with which it occurs and affects us.

Many clauses in community insurance policies include the exceedance, or non-exceedance, of certain degrees of intensity of these phenomena as a condition for determining what type of compensation or indemnity we will receive. In this type of case, the official bodies and the evidence provided and validated determine whether or not the levels reached by the phenomenon correspond to those established in the terms of the policy.

On many occasions, communities are unaware of a very important and basic circumstance: some meteorological, geological or seismic phenomena are insured directly by the Insurance Compensation Consortium (CCS) and not directly by their company.

Basic insurance coverage for homeowners' associations

Insurance and how to act in the event of weather damage, whether minor or more serious, is primarily the responsibility of the president of the community, who must know the protocol for reporting the loss to the insurance company or, if this has been agreed with the administrator, the latter must be the one to initiate the procedures with the insurance company.

But it is the president who must be fully aware of the content of the policy, its clauses, conditions and guarantees.

It is usual for this type of policy to provide protection against the following meteorological damage:

- Rainfall. A maximum rainfall intensity is usually set and flooding is considered.

- Snow. It is usual not to establish an intensity clause. One area where damage caused by snow accumulation and its excess weight must be insured. This usually affects, above all, the roofs of houses, especially when they are not well prepared.

- Hail. A standard homeowner's insurance policy usually includes the damage that hail can cause.

- Wind. Insurers do not usually respond to winds that do not exceed a certain speed and vary according to companies and policies.

- Lightning strike. If the building is struck by lightning, these repair costs will be borne by the insurance company.

It is therefore essential to know all the clauses of the contract, both general and specific, in order to be clear about which aspects are covered by an indemnity and within what limits.

As mentioned above, in the first instance it is the president or the administrator (if this has been agreed as part of their services) who is responsible for managing everything from contracting to the processing of claims and ensuring that everything is complied with.

Insurance and cover for weather-related claims

Coverage does not always include all types of damage caused by weather damage, as certain magnitudes of the loss are eliminated.

In such cases, the Insurance Compensation Consortium assumes the coverage. This measure may apply to earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions, falling bodies, extraordinary floods or large storms.

Unlike the companies, which have the option of sending repairers to the insured's home, the Consortium pays the amount of the compensation in cash. Each individual must then contact the appropriate professionals and carry out the necessary work.

What the Insurance Compensation Consortium does when it acts with extraordinary risks and declaration of a catastrophic zone, is to make the payment immediately, providing additional oxygen for the economic reconstruction of those affected.

Remember, the Insurance Compensation Consortium only provides coverage if you have contracted insurance with its exceptions. If a catastrophic area is declared a disaster area, you can benefit without the existence of contracted insurance, although this is an exceptional case that depends on the Government.

We suggest, therefore, that you make sure that those responsible for your community know what is included in the homeowners' association insurance and why it is so necessary to have it updated and as complete as possible.

We hope that all these tips have helped you and that it is clear to you that having a homeowners' association insurance policy is one of the best investments you can make.

At Meridional has a number of insurance companies We offer policies and customer services in English and Spanish. Please do not hesitate to contact us for the best possible quote.