Does the association have to use its own remediation company?

If the repair falls on the association, it usually chooses the vendor. If the work is inside your unit and your responsibility, you can usually hire your own remediator, subject to building rules on insurance certificates, work hours, and elevator use. Check your documents and ask the manager.

What if the association won't respond?

Keep putting it in writing and keep records of every attempt: dates, photos, and who you spoke with. Ask the manager for the maintenance history on the area involved. If it still stalls, an attorney who handles condominium matters can explain your options.

Condos

Condo Mold in Florida: Who Pays — You or the Association?

October 4, 2026

8 min read

In a condo, water doesn't respect property lines. A dishwasher on the fourth floor can stain a ceiling on the third. A roof leak can run down inside an exterior wall past three units. When mold follows, the first fight is usually about who pays, not how to fix it. The answer starts in one document.

General information only, not legal advice. Your condominium documents control.

The Declaration Decides

Every condominium has a declaration of condominium, plus bylaws and rules. The declaration defines the unit (usually the interior space, often from the unfinished drywall inward) and the common elements (usually the structure, roof, exterior walls, and shared pipes). It also says who maintains and repairs what. Insurance is usually split too: the association insures the building, and owners typically carry an HO-6 policy for interior finishes, contents, and some fixtures. Your documents and policies show where the line falls in your building.

Four Common Situations

The leak came from the roof or an exterior wall

These are usually common elements, so the association typically repairs the source. Who pays for the drywall, flooring, and cabinets inside your unit depends on the declaration and how the insurance is split. Report it in writing right away, because the association can't fix what it doesn't know about.

The leak came from the unit above

If an upstairs owner's supply line, toilet, or water heater failed, that owner or their HO-6 carrier is often responsible for the resulting damage, Document the source before the upstairs plumber repairs it and the evidence disappears.

The leak came from inside your own unit

Your dishwasher, your supply line, or your bathroom is usually your responsibility and your HO-6 policy's. If it damaged the unit below, expect that owner to come to you.

The AC is the source

This is the gray area. In many buildings, each unit's air handler, condensate line, and ductwork belong to the owner. In others, part of the system, such as a shared condensate riser, is a common element. The declaration decides. AC condensate overflow is one of the most common causes of condo mold in Florida, so it's worth knowing the answer before it happens. See AC mold removal.

The First 48 Hours

Stop the water if you can, or call the building's emergency line.
Email the manager and any neighboring owner, with photos and the time you found it.
Call your HO-6 carrier, even if you think someone else is at fault.
Start drying. Mold keeps growing while people argue about responsibility.
Get the cause documented by someone independent. A mold assessor's report with moisture readings is strong evidence of where the water came from and how far it went.

Working Inside a Condo Building

Associations usually require contractors to provide certificates of insurance, work within set hours, and protect elevators and hallways. Ask for the rules early so a remediator isn't turned away on the first morning. Ask any company removing mold from your unit for its license number and check it at myfloridalicense.com.

For the insurance side, read does Florida homeowners insurance cover mold? Venice condo owners can also see the Venice page for local patterns.