After Home Damages in Southeast and Southwest Florida, Find an Additional Living Expenses Lawyer

When your South Florida home has damage that displaces you and requires you to temporarily move out of your home to live in a hotel, motel, extended stay, or short-term rental, you’ll incur additional expenses that exceed the personal budgets of most homeowners. Did you know that your homeowners or flood insurance policy should cover these expenses while your home is under repair?

At EC Law Counsel in Hollywood, FL, we handle insurance law cases across Southeast and Southwest Florida. Call us today at 954-861-0833 to speak to an additional living expenses lawyer with our firm.

What Are “Additional Living Expenses” (ALE) in Your Homeowners Insurance Policy?

Your homeowner’s policy should cover expenses you incur while you’re living away from your uninhabitable home after damages. While you complete repairs on your home, your insurance company should reimburse the expenses it deems unavoidable, as outlined in your homeowners insurance policy.

 

To claim ALE coverage with your insurer, review your policy to determine your policy limits for ALE coverage. The limits can vary, so you should review your policy with the help of an experienced additional living expenses lawyer.

 

Your insurance company will need to verify that your home is uninhabitable during the repairs, as well as the extent to which you will require accommodations. For example, if you rent another home or condo to live in, it must be comparable in size with no reduction in quality of life from your normal living standards.

What Will the Insurance Company Pay While You’re Away from Home?

The insurance company will generally reimburse you for necessary expenses that you incur because you are displaced from home. Such expenses could include:

  • Costs of renting a hotel room, condo, townhome, or single family home comparable to your home that is currently uninhabitable
  • Costs of eating at restaurants regularly if your temporary living arrangement doesn’t offer a kitchen
  • Costs of kenneling or boarding a pet if your temporary living arrangement doesn’t allow pets
  • Costs of utilities for your temporary living arrangement if not included in rental rate (comparable to current utilities in your uninhabitable home)
  • Costs of storing household items in a storage unit while the home is uninhabitable
  • Other necessary additional living expenses

What To Do When Claiming ALE

Your insurance company will only cover incurred costs for ALE while your home is uninhabitable. That means you need to keep every receipt and invoice you incur during your time living in temporary accommodation. When claiming ALE, be sure to:

  • Maintain expense records and documentation for reimbursement
  • Seek accommodations comparable to the standards in your home
  • Keep a budget to avoid overspending your policy limit

 

For help knowing which expenses qualify for ALE reimbursement and negotiating with your insurance company, contact us at EC Law Counsel.

Contact Our Additional Living Expenses Lawyer in Southeast and Southwest Florida

At EC Law Counsel, we know that negotiating with your insurance agent about your homeowners policy isn’t always comfortable. Call us today at 954-861-0833 to schedule an initial consultation. Do fight your insurance company alone, get help on your side when dealing with your homeowners insurance company.