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What Is Loss of Use Coverage in Homeowners Insurance?

Loss of use coverage provides for you to live somewhere else in the event your home is unlivable. But there are other things you should know about this coverage.

Catherine Collins
Catherine Collins

Catherine leverages her background in education and finance to write articles that help readers make informed decisions about their insurance and finances.

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Becky Helzer
Edited byBecky Helzer
Becky Helzer
Becky HelzerEditor

Becky Helzer is an editor at Insurify. She loves helping writers express their ideas clearly and authentically. With a diverse background in editing everything from curriculum and books to magazine articles and blog posts, she’s worked on topics ranging from home finance, insurance, and cloud computing to the best tools for home improvement.

A proud graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism, Becky lives in Fort Collins, CO, with her husband and their two spoiled rescue dogs.

David Marlett
Reviewed byDavid Marlett
David Marlett
David MarlettAdvisor

David Marlett is the Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He is a professor in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance at Appalachian State University and holds the IIANC Distinguished Professorship. David also serves on the Board of Directors for the Invest program and previously chaired the Loman Advisory Committee for the CPCU Society.

David has taught courses in Risk Management and Insurance for the last 25 years, starting at Florida State University while in the doctoral program. Prior to graduate school, David worked as a commercial lines underwriter for USF&G in Tampa.

He serves as a resource on insurance issues and is a frequent media contributor. He has been quoted by a wide range of outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, and NPR.

David has been reviewing articles for Insurify since March 2025.

Updated

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Loss of use coverage is an important part of your homeowners insurance policy.[1] It helps pay for temporary living expenses and related costs if your home is damaged or destroyed and you have to live elsewhere while repairs are underway.

Also known as Coverage D, loss of use coverage includes additional living expenses (ALE) coverage. ALE coverage pays for expenses beyond your day-to-day living costs, such as hotel bills or restaurant meals.

What is loss of use coverage?

Loss of use coverage typically pays for hotel stays, restaurant meals, and other necessary expenses you incur while you’re unable to live in your home. In most cases, your insurance company will begin paying once it determines your home uninhabitable.

Standard homeowners insurance policies typically include loss of use coverage. But it’s important to note that your loss of use coverage kicks in only if your insurer deems your home unlivable due to a covered peril.[2]

For example, if your home sustains significant damage from a burst pipe or a lightning strike, your loss of use coverage will pay your additional living expenses while you’re displaced. Keep in mind that coverage doesn’t apply if you need to leave your home due to perils your policy doesn’t cover, such as flooding or an earthquake.

Loss of use coverage limits vary by insurer. Some companies pay for a set period (such as 12 to 24 months), while others pay up to a specific dollar amount.

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How loss of use coverage works

Your insurer will grant a claim under loss of use coverage only if the damage to your home meets specifically outlined criteria. The criteria of what your insurer’s loss of use coverage does and doesn’t cover will be outlined in your policy.

Your policy will also outline the limits of your loss of use coverage. In most cases, these limits equate to a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit, like 20%, for example. In this case, if your dwelling coverage limit was $300,000, your loss of use coverage limit would be $60,000.

Learn More: What Does Home Insurance Cover and What Does It Exclude?

Learn More: What Does Home Insurance Cover and What Does It Exclude?

Types of loss of use coverage

Coverage D includes three types of loss of use coverage: additional living expenses, actual loss sustained, and fair rental value coverage.

  • Additional living expenses: This type of coverage can pay for several different expenses that you might incur if you can’t live in your home. For example, it might cover hotel costs, restaurant meals, laundry services, and dog boarding.

  • Actual loss sustained: Your insurance company isn’t likely to compensate you for every purchase you make while your home is uninhabitable — only for any increased expenses. For example, if you typically spend $500 per month on groceries but now spend $900, your policy may reimburse you for the extra $400, not the full $900.

  • Fair rental value coverage: If you have a rental property that’s damaged, this type of coverage will compensate you for the loss of income if your renters have to live elsewhere for a period of time.

What does ALE insurance cover?

Loss of use coverage kicks in only after your insurer deems your home uninhabitable. It typically pays for the following living expenses up to a dollar limit or time period listed in your policy:

  • Hotel or rental costs while your home is uninhabitable

  • Additional food costs due to higher-priced restaurant meals

  • Additional transportation costs resulting from your displacement, such as longer commutes

What does loss of use coverage exclude?

It’s important to know what your insurance policy will and won’t cover when it comes to unexpected repairs, especially because some policies only pay for loss of use coverage under certain conditions.

For instance, even the best homeowners insurance policies typically won’t pay for loss of use if your home is damaged by a tropical storm, flooding, or other perils excluded by your policy.

Loss of use coverage also has limits and exclusions. Some insurers set a specific dollar amount (often 10%–30% of your dwelling coverage limit) or a time limit (typically 1224 months). Your insurance company also won’t pay for expenses you were already responsible for, like day care and your regular food costs.

Your loss of use coverage typically excludes the following:

  • Typical living expenses you’d pay anyway, such as your mortgage, day care, and standard food costs

  • Damage caused by excluded perils, such as flooding and earthquakes

  • Voluntary relocation, such as choosing to move out of your home even though it’s still habitable

Note that coverage varies by insurer. It’s important to read your policy carefully to understand your loss of use coverage limits and when it applies.

Check Out: How to Find Out If You Live in a Flood Zone

Check Out: How to Find Out If You Live in a Flood Zone

Factors that affect loss of use coverage

Many different factors affect your loss of use insurance coverage, including your policy limits, what caused the damage, how long you’ll be displaced, and how well you document your expenses.

Here are a few key points to know about your loss of use coverage:

  • Your home must be uninhabitable due to a covered loss for loss of use coverage to apply.

  • Your loss of use policy limit is the maximum amount of money your insurance company will pay when you make a claim.

  • Your homeowners policy may limit your loss of use coverage to a certain dollar amount or a specific length of time, often between 12 and 24 months. Every insurance company has different guidelines for loss of use coverage.[3]

  • Loss of use insurance pays only for expenses that exceed your normal costs. For example, if your mortgage is $2,000 per month and a month-long hotel stay costs $5,000, your insurance would pay the $3,000 difference.

  • Rental costs in the area might affect your loss of use coverage, depending on how expensive homes are to rent.

How much loss of use coverage do you need?

Follow these steps to determine how much loss of use coverage you actually need:

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/150x150/79b027a857/house-rental-96x96-yellow_050-budget.svg

    Calculate your living expenses

    Add up your mortgage, utilities, food, and anything else you categorize as living expenses.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/150x150/b045612c49/house-rental-96x96-orange_045-value.svg

    Know your policy limits

    Homeowners insurance policies typically include loss of use coverage, but the amount of coverage may vary.[4] Make sure your policy’s coverage amount is sufficient to cover your daily standard of living expenses should you need to use it.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/100x100/4ec24627d2/flood-coverage.svg

    Evaluate your risk factors

    If you live in a city with a higher crime rate or in a coastal area with a higher chance of hurricanes, make sure your policy and any additional riders cover you for potential hazards.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/fa11c1fe75/comparison-website.svg

    Compare quotes

    Compare quotes from at least three insurers, paying close attention to policy limits to ensure you’re adequately covered.

  • illustration card https://a.storyblok.com/f/162273/x/5285c4cd74/uninsured-or-underinsured-motorist-coverage.svg

    Choose a policy that works for you

    After researching and comparing policies, choose the best fit for your budget and needs.

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How to file a loss of use claim

If you need to file a loss of use claim, follow these steps:

  1. Contact your insurer as soon as possible after your home is damaged or destroyed. Keep all records of your calls with the insurance company to stay organized.

  2. Document your expenses in detail. Write down out-of-pocket costs you’ve incurred, including hotel room stays, restaurant meals, and dog boarding, and keep all receipts.

  3. File a claim with your insurance company online, on the app, over the phone, or in person at your insurance agent’s office.

  4. Work with an adjuster as they assess your claim, view the damage, and potentially ask you for more documentation. Your adjuster and your insurance company will inform you of next steps, including when you’ll be compensated.

Loss of use coverage FAQs

If you want to know more about loss of use coverage, consider this additional information as you search for a policy.

  • What is a covered loss in insurance?

    A covered loss in insurance is a financial loss you sustain that your insurance company will reimburse you for. Your policy outlines which losses your insurer will cover.

  • What is Coverage D on an HO-3 policy?

    Coverage D outlines your HO-3 policy’s loss of use coverage. This coverage kicks in to pay for your living expenses if your home is deemed uninhabitable due to a covered peril.

  • Does loss of use coverage have a deductible?

    No. Loss of use coverage doesn’t have a separate deductible. If a covered peril damages your home, you’ll pay your policy deductible before repairs begin, but not specifically for loss of use coverage. Coverage details vary by insurer and policy.

  • What are standard home insurance limits for loss of use coverage?

    Loss of use coverage limits typically range from 10% to 30% of your dwelling coverage limit, depending on the insurer.

  • Does renters insurance cover loss of use?

    Yes. Renters insurance is designed to cover your personal belongings, liability, and additional living expenses if you’re unable to live in your rental due to a covered loss. This means that renters insurance includes loss of use coverage if you’re displaced by a covered peril, such as a kitchen fire or burst pipe.

  • What is fair rental value coverage?

    Fair rental value coverage is included in most landlord insurance policies. It pays for lost rental income when a covered event leaves your rental property uninhabitable and forces your tenants to relocate temporarily.

Methodology

Insurify data scientists analyzed rates from more than 180 home insurance companies sourced directly from Insurify’s partner companies and Quadrant Information Services. Rates span all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and quote averages represent the mean price for a given coverage level and geographic area. To ensure data reliability, only insurers meeting minimum quote thresholds were included in the analysis.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for homeowners with no prior claims and good credit with a home construction year of 1980. The default coverage assumptions include:

Default Coverage Assumptions

  • Dwelling coverage: $300,000
  • Deductible: $1,000
  • Personal property limit: $25,000
  • Liability limit: $300,000

Additional data points beyond these default values are sourced from Insurify’s proprietary database. Rates are updated monthly.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by standard homeowners insurance?."
  2. Natonal Association of Insurance Commissioners. "A Consumer's Guide to Home Insurance."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "Homeowners Insurance Basics."
  4. North Carolina Department of Insurance. "Basic Homeowners Insurance."
Catherine Collins
Catherine Collins

Catherine leverages her background in education and finance to write articles that help readers make informed decisions about their insurance and finances.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logo

Catherine leverages her background in education and finance to write articles that help readers make informed decisions about their insurance and finances.

linkedin
Becky Helzer
Edited byBecky HelzerEditor
Becky Helzer
Becky HelzerEditor

Becky Helzer is an editor at Insurify. She loves helping writers express their ideas clearly and authentically. With a diverse background in editing everything from curriculum and books to magazine articles and blog posts, she’s worked on topics ranging from home finance, insurance, and cloud computing to the best tools for home improvement.

A proud graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in technical journalism, Becky lives in Fort Collins, CO, with her husband and their two spoiled rescue dogs.

David Marlett
Reviewed byDavid MarlettAdvisor
David Marlett
David MarlettAdvisor

David Marlett is the Managing Director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center. He is a professor in the Department of Finance, Banking, and Insurance at Appalachian State University and holds the IIANC Distinguished Professorship. David also serves on the Board of Directors for the Invest program and previously chaired the Loman Advisory Committee for the CPCU Society.

David has taught courses in Risk Management and Insurance for the last 25 years, starting at Florida State University while in the doctoral program. Prior to graduate school, David worked as a commercial lines underwriter for USF&G in Tampa.

He serves as a resource on insurance issues and is a frequent media contributor. He has been quoted by a wide range of outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, and NPR.

David has been reviewing articles for Insurify since March 2025.

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