Temporary housing after a house fire: what insurance pays, what to claim first, and the week-two decision

Key facts

• The three statutory ALE minimums apply to declared-emergency losses only; a single-house fire is governed by the policy form.
• Covered increases start on night one: hotel, meals with no kitchen, laundry, and storage once a remediation company takes the contents (Washington OIC).
• Typical ALE time limit: 12 to 24 months; the extension request is written and sent before it ends.
• By the end of week two the contractor's scope says weeks or months, and that decides the housing type.

Does the 24-month ALE law apply to a house fire?

Only if the fire is part of a declared emergency and you are in California, Colorado or Oregon. A single-house fire is handled on the policy form in every state, and the form may say 12 months.

What do you claim in the first two weeks?

• Written confirmation from the adjuster or the fire department that the home is uninhabitable.
• The remediation company's pack-out inventory and a storage invoice in your name; storage is a listed increase and starts the day they take the contents.
• Itemized hotel folios with meals separated. See hotel stays under ALE.
• A written request for the comparable housing rate and an itemized advance.

What is the week-two decision?

Smoke and suppression water reach rooms the fire did not, and the structural permit sets the calendar. By the end of week two you have a written scope. If it says months, compare the monthly options on hotel versus furnished versus RV, and if the lot survived, read RV temporary housing.

When do you request an extension?

By month 10 on a 12-month form. The method is on how long insurance pays for temporary housing.

Questions people ask

Does the 24-month ALE law apply to my house fire?

Only if the fire is part of a declared emergency and you are in California, Colorado or Oregon. A kitchen fire on an ordinary Tuesday is handled on your policy form, which may say 12 months.

What do I claim in the first two weeks?

The uninhabitability finding in writing, itemized hotel folios with meals separated, the remediation company's pack-out inventory and a storage invoice in your name, and a written request for the comparable housing rate and an advance.

How long will I be out?

Smoke and suppression water reach rooms the fire did not, and the structural permit sets the calendar. Ask the contractor for a written scope by the end of week two; if it says months, plan months of housing.

Hotel or something longer?

Hotel for the first days. If the scope says months, the hotel becomes the most expensive way to spend the dollar cap, and a furnished rental or an RV on the lot, priced monthly, is the durable option.

What to do next

1. Get the uninhabitability finding in writing from the adjuster or the fire department.
2. Ask the remediation company for the storage invoice in your name.
3. Split every hotel folio and keep every meal receipt.
4. Send the comparable-rate and advance request in writing.
5. Start the monthly ALE packet.

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How we know

Each finding below names its source, what we did to it, what it means for you and what it costs to ignore. Figures marked measured decay and are re-measured before they are 60 days old.

Reviewed by TempHome Finder editorial. Published 2026-09-06. Updated 2026-09-07.