We have copied the temporary accommodation wording from three common home policies.
QBE
We will pay the following benefit if your home is damaged by an insured event and it is unliveable as a result.
Unlivable – the home is unliveable if, due to an incident:
• it is unsafe to live in; or
• the disabled access and/or mobility handles and rails required by you and/or your family are damaged to the extent that they are no longer fit for purpose; or
• it is not furnished such that it is comfortably habitable; or
• it does not contain a functioning refrigerator and cooking appliance; or
• it does not have functional bathroom facilities; or
• it is not connected to the electricity supply; or
• it is not connected to hot and cold running water
AAMI
When you are covered for loss or damage to the building to the extent that the building cannot be lived in, we will pay for your reasonable and necessary temporary accommodation costs for the time it will take to repair or rebuild the building so that it can be lived in again for:
Cannot be lived in means destroyed or made completely or partially unfit to live in. This might include if the utilities are not available or it is not safe to live in.
Budget Direct
If your home becomes unliveable as a result of an insured event at the insured address and we agree to pay your claim, we will pay for temporary accommodation.
When a home is so damaged that: l normal domestic activities like cooking and sanitation cannot be performed, or l local authorities will not provide permission for the home to be inhabited, or l we otherwise agree that you can’t live in the home
In each of these policies and generally all domestic home and contents policies, the words unliveable are used and usually defined. Some of the definitions are quite vague and these should be your first reference as to whether you are entitled to temporary accommodation. However, we suggest where any of the below have occurred and still apply to your circumstance then phone your insurer and ask for accommodation.
Remember you must have an accepted claim before temporary accommodation applies.
- The house does not have power and it is not expected to be activated for some time (minimum period would be the next day which would result in an overnight stay).
- House does not have running water and effective sanitation (use of a bathroom and toilet).
- The house does not have an accessible kitchen and you are unable to cook a meal.
- The majority of the house is wet.
- The majority of the house is fire, smoke or soot affected.
- There is a potential asbestos or mould risk.
It is our view that if any of the above are applicable to your claim, then it is reasonable that you be provided temporary accommodation. Be mindful that the amount payable in relation to accommodation is limited as are the time periods.
Common time limits are:
4 weeks for accommodation in a motel style accommodation.
52 weeks (or an extra 48 weeks) for accommodation in a standard that is similar to your home.
We suggest that in the circumstance where you need accommodation, that you find it yourself. Insurers often have limited knowledge of your needs and whilst they may ask how many people need to be accommodated they often neglect things such as where you work, getting home to check the house, where schools are located, where your pets are located.
Find some suitable accommodation and get the property manager to send the insurer a proposal.