Vermont Mutual Insurance Company offers a businessowner policy to it's condominium association's.

The Vermont Insurance businessowners policy make the master policy refer to the condominium documents. This means the insurance adjuster is to refer to the by-laws in the event of a claim and interpret what the by-laws intend to cover at the time of loss. Vermont Mutual does offer an all-in endorsement (VB1400) that extends the policy to cover unit improvements. The VB1400 all-in endorsement is subject to underwriting approval.

Review the insurance section of your by-laws. Be sure the wording is what your condo board wants.  Are the trustees required to insure unit-improvements? Is the insurance section confusing, does it refer to unit improvements subsequent to the first sale? If the by-laws are unclear on what the master policy should cover it can only cause confusion when a claims occur. You may want to consult your attorney. 

The Vermont Mutual package policy will include standardized policy form CP0017 (edition 06/95) which defines Building Coverage as follows: 

CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION COVERAGE FORM

Various provisions in this policy restrict coverage. Read the entire policy

carefully to determine rights, duties and what is and is not covered.

Throughout this policy the words "you" and "your" refer to the Named Insured

shown in the Declarations. The words "we," "us" and "our" refer to the

Company providing this insurance.

Other words and phrases that appear in quotation marks have special meaning.

Refer to SECTION H - DEFINITIONS.

A. COVERAGE

We will pay for direct physical loss of or damage to Covered Property at

the premises described in the Declarations caused by or resulting from

any Covered Cause of Loss.

1. Covered Property

Covered Property, as used in this Coverage Part, means the type of

property described in this section, A.1., and limited in A.2.,

Property Not Covered, if a Limit of Insurance is shown in the

Declarations caused by or resulting for which a Limit of Insurance is

shown in the Declarations for that type of property.

a. Building, meaning the building or structure described in the

Declarations, including:

(1) Completed additions;

(2) Fixtures, outside of individual units, including

outdoor fixtures;

(3) Permanently installed:

(a) Machinery; and

(b) Equipment;

(4) Personal property owned by you that is used to maintain or

service the building or structure or its premises, including:

(a) Fire extinguishing equipment;

(b) Outdoor furniture;

(c) Floor coverings; and

(d) Appliances used for refrigerating, ventilating, cooking,

dishwashing or laundering that are not contained within

individual units;

(5) If not covered by other insurance:

(a) Additions under construction, alterations and repairs to

the building or structure;

(b) Materials, equipment, supplies, and temporary structures,

on or within 100 feet of the described premises, used for

making additions, alterations or repairs to the building or

structure; and

(6) Any of the following types of property contained within a unit,

regardless of ownership, if your Condominium Association

Agreement requires you to insure it:

(a) Fixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of

the building or structure; and

(b) Appliances, such as those used for refrigerating,

ventilating, cooking, dishwashing, laundering, security or

housekeeping.

But Building does not include personal property owned by, used

by or in the care, custody or control of a unit-owner except

for personal property listed in paragraph A.1.a.(6) above.

b. Your Business Personal Property located in or on the building

described in the Declarations or in the open (or in a vehicle)

within 100 feet of the described premises, consisting of the

following:

(1) Personal property owned by you or owned indivisibly by all

unit-owners;

(2) Your interest in the labor, materials or services furnished or

arranged by you on personal property of others;

(3) Leased personal property for which you have a contractual

responsibility to insure, unless otherwise provided for under

Personal Property of Others.

But Your Business Personal Property does not include personal

property owned only by a unit-owner.

CP 00 17 06 95

The Vermont Insurance Business Owner  Policy includes a Massachusetts Changes- Condominium Association Coverage Form  BP 1707 Edition 01/97) which defines Building Coverage as follows: 

THIS ENDORSEMENT CHANGES THE POLICY. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY.

MASSACHUSETTS CHANGES - CONDOMINIUM

ASSOCIATION COVERAGE

This endorsement modifies insurance provided under the following:

BUSINESSOWNERS POLICY

SCHEDULE

Insurance Trustee Condominium

 

A. Paragraph A.1.a. Building in the Businessowners Property Coverage Form is

replaced by the following:

a. Building, meaning the building or structure described in the

Declarations, including:

(1) Completed additions;

(2) Permanently installed:

(a) Fixtures;

(b) Machinery; and

(c) Equipment;

(3) Outdoor fixtures;

(4) Personal property owned by you that is used to maintain or

service the building or structure or its premises, including:

(a) Fire extinguishing equipment;

(b) Outdoor furniture;

(c) Floor coverings; and

(d) Appliances used for refrigerating, ventilating, cooking,

dishwashing or laundering that are not contained within

individual units;

(5) If not covered by other insurance:

(a) Additions under construction, alterations and repairs to the

building or structure;

(b) Materials, equipment, supplies, and temporary structures, on

or within 100 feet of the described premises, used for making

additions, alterations or repairs to the building or

structure; and

(6) Any of the following types of property contained within a unit,

regardless of ownership, if your Condominium Association

Agreement requires you to insure it:

(a) Fixtures, improvements and alterations that are a part of the

building or structure; and

(b) Appliances, such as those used for refrigerating,

ventilating, cooking, dishwashing, laundering, security or

housekeeping.

But Building does not include personal property owned by, used by

or in the care, custody or control of a unit-owner except for

personal property listed in Paragraph A.1.a.(6) above.

 

B. Paragraph A.1.b. Business Personal Property in the Businessowners

Property Coverage Form is replaced by the following:

b. Business Personal Property located in or on the buildings at the

described premises or in the open (or in a vehicle) within 100 feet

of the described premises, owned:

(1) By you; or

(2) Indivisibly by all unit-owners.

This includes your interest in the labor, materials or services

furnished or arranged by you on personal property of others.

Business Personal Property does not include personal property owned

only by a unit-owner, unless it is in your care, custody or control as

covered below.

This also includes property of others that is in your care, custody or

control except as otherwise provided in Loss Payment Property Loss

Condition E.6.d.(3)(b).

C. The following is added to the Loss Payment Loss Condition in the

Businessowners Property Coverage Form:

1. If you name an insurance trustee, we will adjust losses with you, but

we will pay the insurance trustee. If we pay the trustee, the payments

will satisfy your claims against us.

2. The mortgageholder appoints an insurance trustee for the owners or

co-owners of the condominium as shown in the Schedule or in the

Declarations. This insurance trustee will:

a. Serve as Agent with Power of Attorney as principal as respects the

Cancellation Condition; and

b. Act on all matters dealing with loss or damage to buildings or

structures covered under this policy.

This appointment includes the right to:

a. Receive loss payment due to the mortgageholder; and

b. Execute a full release on the mortgageholder's behalf.

D. The following is added to the Property Loss Conditions:

10. Unit-Owner's Insurance

A unit-owner may have other insurance covering the same property as

this insurance. This insurance is intended to be primary, and not to

contribute with such other insurance.

E. The following is added to Paragraph C. - Who Is An Insured of the

Businessowners Liability Coverage Form:

4. Each individual unit-owner of the insured condominium, but only for

liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance or repair of that

portion of the premises which is not reserved for that unit-owner's

exclusive use or occupancy.

F. The following is added to the Transfer Of Rights Of Recovery Against

Others To Us Common Policy Condition:

3. Waiver Of Rights Of Recovery

We waive our rights to recover payment from any unit-owner of the

condominium that is shown in the Declarations.

BP 17 07 01/97

What is covered by the building?

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