Yes, when the reason you can't live there is something your policy covers. It's called Loss of Use, and it's the part of renters insurance that pays for somewhere to stay while your apartment gets repaired.
Here's the question worth sitting with for a second: if your building were unlivable tonight, where would you sleep, and who would pay for it?
Most people have never thought about it. It's also the line nobody compares when they shop for a policy on price.
What Does Loss of Use Actually Pay For?
It pays for the increase in your living expenses — not your entire bill.
Say you normally spend $400 a month on groceries. Now you're staying in a hotel and spending $700 on food. Your policy may cover the $300 increase, not the full $700.
The policy describes this as "any necessary increase in living expenses" needed to maintain your normal standard of living while your home is uninhabitable.
You were always going to eat. What you weren't planning to pay for was a hotel room and the additional costs that come with being temporarily displaced.
Expenses that may count as an increase:
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Hotel or short-term rental
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Meals above what you normally spend
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Laundry, if you don't have access to your usual washer
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Extra gas or transportation costs from a longer commute
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Pet boarding, in some situations
Expenses that generally don't:
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Your regular rent, which you were already paying
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A hotel that is significantly above your normal standard of living
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Costs from cancelling your lease, which the policy specifically excludes
How Much Will It Pay?
Up to a set dollar limit, and it's a separate limit from the one that covers your belongings.
Two things worth knowing about it:
It's included. Loss of Use comes with the policy. It isn't an add-on you have to remember to ask for.
It has its own number. It's listed on your declarations page as its own line, and how much it is depends on the policy you choose. So a renters policy isn't one number, it's your belongings, your liability, and this, each with its own limit.
When you compare policies, this is the line almost nobody looks at. It's also the one that decides whether you're in a hotel or on somebody's couch.
Your quote shows all the limits. It takes seconds to see your price: Get your Free Quote Here
How Long Does It Last?
The shortest time reasonably needed to repair or replace the damage. If you decide not to go back and move permanently instead, it's the shortest time needed for your household to settle somewhere else.
No fixed number of days, and it isn't cut off when your policy renews. It follows the repair, not the calendar.
The duration is limited by the dollar amount of your coverage: 20% of your Personal Property limit. Once that amount is exhausted, the coverage ends, regardless of whether the repairs are complete.
For example, if you have $30,000 in Personal Property coverage, your maximum Loss of Use coverage is $6,000. Once that amount is used up, the coverage ends, no matter how many days remain before the repairs are completed.
That’s why the Personal Property limit you choose when you purchase your policy matters more than you might think. It doesn’t just protect your belongings; it also determines how much coverage you have available while you’re away from your home and the insurance is covering your additional living expenses.
What If Authorities Won't Let Me Back In?
If a civil authority prevents you from accessing your home because of damage to a neighboring property — such as a fire in the apartment next door or a collapse in an adjacent building — your policy covers your additional living expenses for up to 14 days, even if your own home has not been damaged.
It’s an easily overlooked situation and is especially relevant in buildings with shared walls or structures, where an evacuation order can leave you unable to access your apartment even though it remains undamaged.
When Would It Not Cover My Hotel?
We'd rather you know this now than at 11pm with a suitcase:
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Flooding and storm surge: The policy expressly excludes flooding, surface water, waves, and tidal water, regardless of whether they are caused by wind or rain. If flooding makes your home uninhabitable, Loss of Use coverage does not apply. Flood insurance is not included in the base policy. Contact Kanguro to learn about available options in your state.
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Sewer or drain backup unless you have added coverage: Sewer and drain backup is excluded from the base policy. We currently offer an endorsement that provides $2,500 in coverage with a $250 deductible once activated, available for just $15 per year.
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If your apartment is simply uncomfortable: A broken air conditioner in August isn't enough. The policy requires the unit to be genuinely uninhabitable due to a covered cause, not simply unpleasant or temporarily difficult to live in.
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Scheduled repairs by your landlord: If your landlord decides to make improvements or perform maintenance repairs, that is not a covered loss. It is a matter between you and your landlord.
Does It Cover an Airbnb Instead of a Hotel?
Yes. The policy talks about the increase in your living costs, not about what kind of room it is. A short-term rental, an extended-stay, a sublet, what matters is that it's necessary and reasonable for your situation.
And if you stay with family instead? Then you're not spending more on lodging, so there's usually nothing to reimburse there. But meals, laundry and a longer commute can still count. Keep all receipts. Documentation is required to support any expenses claimed under this coverage.
What About My Pet?
If you have a pet, the hotel question and the pet question show up together, and most policies say nothing about it.
Boarding may count as a necessary increase depending on your situation. Message us before you book — one message, and you'll know.
If your pet is insured with us too, that conversation happens with the same team, in the same app.
What to Do the Day It Happens
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File your claim through the app and let us know that you can't stay in your home. The sooner you report it, the sooner we can help.
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Keep all receipts for hotels, meals, laundry, gas, and pet boarding. Without documentation, expenses cannot be reimbursed.
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Keep track of what you normally spend. ALE covers the difference between your usual expenses and your current expenses, so the "before" matters just as much as the "after."
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Take photos of the damage before cleaning up or throwing anything away. Evidence of the original condition is needed to process your claim.
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Don't arrange repairs or sign contracts without checking with us first. Some decisions made before an inspection may affect your coverage.
Life Happened at Home. Kanguro Jumped In, with People who Cares
Renters insurance in Florida, Georgia, and Texas — starting at $5/month.
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Your belongings protected
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Personal liability coverage
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A place to stay if something happens
All in one policy. No fine print. No surprises.
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Bilingual support: Real people, in English or Spanish
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One app: Manage your renters and pet insurance in one place
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Have a pet? Insure both and get a discount
Prices vary by location and coverage. Coverage is subject to the terms of the issued policy.
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