When hurricanes make landfall, residents are often displaced from their homes. Direct damage from high winds can destroy houses, and storm-surge flooding can quickly become catastrophic for residents.
While most people are aware that their homeowner’s insurance will cover the damage done to their property, many do not know that their coverage may also extend to the costs of living elsewhere while a home is repaired or rebuilt. In fact, many policies include this coverage under “temporary living expenses,” “additional living expenses” (ALE), or “loss of use.”
Whether you have recently been displaced by Hurricane Hermine or simply want to get prepared for the future, now is a great time to double-check your coverage for temporary living expenses.
What Is Covered Under Temporary or Additional Living Expenses After a Hurricane?
Save all your receipts, and document any costs related to your temporary living situation. How post-hurricane living expenses are covered can depend on many factors, but you may be surprised at how much insurers do cover. It may be possible to get help paying for all kinds of living expenses while you are making repairs or displaced from your home, including:
- Moving and transportation costs.
- Rent on an apartment or other temporary residence.
- Application, credit-check, and move-out fees.
- Costs of utility installation.
- Food and dining expenses.
- Costs of protecting damaged property while uninhabited.
- Pet boarding.
- Some cell-phone charges.
Be sure to check your existing insurance policy for coverage of living expenses after a disaster, and don’t forget to see if there are limits on that coverage. Understanding your policy—before you need it—is one of the best ways to protect yourself and get prepared for the worst-case scenario in a storm. To get started, find out more about what homeowner’s insurance policies typically cover.
Many policyholders are entitled to coverage of their living expenses in the wake of a disaster, but not all of them understand their rights or what might be covered by their insurer. In some cases, homeowners may even have to take action against the insurance companies that are treating them unfairly. If you are having trouble getting your insurance company to pay the full amount of your claim after a hurricane or tropical storm, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Voss Law Firm at 1-888-614-7730 for help.
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