Homeowners insurance basics: Additional living expenses

by Susan Hu 03/03/2024

Every homeowners insurance policy includes additional living expenses coverage. If you’re temporarily displaced from your home because of damage, this coverage can help you pay for the additional everyday expenses until you’re able to move back in. But what exactly does additional living expense (ALE) coverage include?

Here is a basic guide to help you learn more about ALE insurance:

What does ALE coverage include?

Additional living expenses covered by your home insurance generally include:

  • Restaurant and food costs exceeding normal grocery bills.
  • Temporary lodging including hotels, motels and rentals.
  • Fuel and transportation costs for an increased commute.
  • Pet boarding if your temporary lodging doesn’t allow them.
  • Furniture rental if your temporary lodging is unfurnished.
  • Laundry services.
  • Storage fees for your personal belongings.

What isn’t covered?

Unfortunately, your ALE insurance won’t cover everything. It’s important to remember that this portion of your insurance policy will not pay for damage to your home or belongings. However, these costs are covered by the dwelling portion of your homeowners insurance policy.

How much ALE coverage do I need?

Your insurance company may offer options for different amounts of coverage for additional living expenses. By default, this benefit is about 10% to 20% of the amount covered by your dwelling coverage.

For example, if your home is damaged and your dwelling coverage is $400,000, your ALE policy would provide around $40,000 to $80,000 of coverage for your additional living expenses.

For any questions about coverage amounts and details of your additional living expense coverage, check with your insurance company for more information. The more you know about your coverage, the better prepared you’ll be if you ever need to make a claim.

About the Author
Author

Susan Hu

Susan Shuxian Hu has been a dedicated realtor serving in Silicon Valley since 2010. With great passion, outstanding negotiation skills and due diligence, she has helped many buyers and sellers in their real estate needs. Living in West San Jose for more than 14 years, she has broad knowledge in Cupertino, West San Jose, Los Altos and Saratoga. She has enormous patience working with buyers and never tired of showing all possible properties that may fit client’s needs. Clients appreciate her best service to their satisfaction. She specialized in luxurious real estate purchase in Los Altos, Cupertino, Saratoga and Palo Alto. She also helped friend and past client’s referral working in San Francisco, Foster City and far reached Bay Area.

Susan Shuxian Hu was graduated in East China Normal University in Shanghai with bachelor and master degrees in Bio science. She came to US in 1989 and earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics in Texas A&M University in 1996. After one year of postdoc in Southern Florida University in Tampa, she moved back to Orlando with her family and started working in Lucent Technologies. In 2002, Susan moved to California, Silicon Valley joined a start-up company. Since then she worked in high tech Corporation till 2009. Driven by her dream job pursuing, she found her passion working in sales by helping people in real estate after one year of education in De Anza business and real estate law study. Since then, she has been serving many people in Bay Area for their real estate needs.

With bilingual advantage, she has been actively working with Chinese immigrants as well as local engineers and residents. With rich high tech background and connection with Chinese community, Susan has served in luxurious real estate in last a couple of years.