Insurance Housing After a Fire or Flood: What You Need to Know

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Among all the other responsibilities you’ve been having to deal with, finding insurance housing probably wasn’t on your radar. Unfortunately, a fire or major water leak turned your plans upside down, and suddenly you’re trying to figure out where you’ll sleep, how to manage your schedule, and how long it might be before you can go home.

If you’re in this situation right now, finding a place is likely only step one of the process. There’s probably also the insurance claim, repair arrangement, and your belongings to deal with. For many people, a hotel is the first place that comes to mind when they need somewhere quickly. But if you’re going to be out of your home for weeks or longer, having a furnished place with a kitchen, laundry, and more living space can significantly improve your day-to-day.

Here’s what you need to know about insurance housing, working with your insurance company, and finding the right temporary home in Toronto.

What Is Insurance Housing?

Insurance housing might sound like something reserved for major disasters, but it really refers to temporary accommodation arranged or paid for when a covered event makes your home unlivable. For example, a burst pipe in a condo building flooding your unit or a kitchen fire causing smoke and water damage throughout your home. Of course, because your insurance company is covering the cost, what’s available to you will depend on your policy and circumstances.

That’s why a common first step is to contact your insurance company or review your policy. Since your policy might set limits on how much you can spend on temporary accommodation, how long you can stay, and what sort of additional expenses are eligible, you’ll want to know before jumping in. Your insurer might also have specific requirements for approving your temporary housing, which is why speaking with your claims representative before you make any long-term arrangements is a good idea.

Toronto is teeming with all sorts of temporary housing options beyond hotels, including furnished apartments, condos, or houses. The most important decision is selecting somewhere that makes sense and is practical for your household and situation.

When Might You Need Temporary Housing in Toronto?

People often think of temporary housing as an aftereffect of a completely damaged property. In actuality, it can be necessary any time one part of a property is damaged badly enough that staying there isn’t practical while repairs take place.

Scenarios can include:

• A kitchen or electrical fire leaving parts of the home unsafe
• A burst pipe causing significant flooding and water damage
• Smoke or water damage making several rooms unusable
• A basement affected by water damage
• Restoration work being too extensive for residents to remain in the home
• Repairs involving removing flooring, drywall, ceilings, or other interior materials

Condo residents and traditional homeowners alike can experience an array of situations where temporary housing becomes necessary.

Why a Hotel Isn’t Always the Easiest Long-Term Solution

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Hotels are the most familiar immediate answer when someone needs a place to stay. There’s no need for furniture, buying the basics, or much planning. In fact, you can usually book a room and have somewhere to sleep that night. In the case of disaster, it often helps to plan a little further ahead. Once your stay becomes more extended, however, your needs can start to look a lot different.

After a few days, you might crave the idea of a home-cooked meal instead of ordering takeout again. Maybe your family needs separate bedrooms and more living space. Perhaps you’re in need of laundry facilities so you don’t have to make a trip to a laundromat every few days. Or maybe you work from home, and it’s becoming too tedious to find reliable coffee shops to set up in all day. Parking, pet-friendly accommodations, and amenities like a gym might also start to feel more important.

Furnished short-term housing can often be a stronger alternative to hotel stays. Rather than living out of a hotel room and making do with a temporary setup, you can have many of the everyday features you’re used to at home.

What to Look For in Temporary Housing

Although it may be tempting to settle for the first decent place you find, why not take some time to compare your options? The circumstances of being suddenly displaced can rush your decisions, but a little research can help you find a place that you actually enjoy living in. Note down the three Ls.

Location: Staying close to your original home can help you maintain your daily routine with much more ease than if you were to select a neighbourhood far away. You might want to stay near your workplace, your children’s school, or just the property itself so you can keep up with the progress.

Live-In Ready: Furnished rentals take a lot of the stress out of moving, as the basics will already be in place. Some places will even come with cleaning equipment, linens, and kitchen supplies to make life even easier. Make sure to also find out whether things like Wi-Fi and parking are included.

Length of Stay: Does the temporary housing offer flexible arrangements? Especially when you aren’t sure what the timeline or schedule looks like for moving back in, having some leeway can make it easier to extend your stay if necessary.

A Place to Call Home While Repairs Are Underway

DelSuites Suite @ Ten York

16 locations in the GTA, decades of on-the-ground condominium property management. DelSuites knows how to give every guest a personal touch, no matter why they need an extended stay. Long before you arrive, we’ve set up the perfect stay.

For those in Toronto needing insurance housing, we offer short-term accommodations for 30 days or longer in key locations across the city. Our rates don’t just cover your furnished suite; they also include a welcome starter package, fully equipped kitchen, bi-weekly cleaning services, wireless internet, en-suite washer and dryer, LCD flat-screen TV, 24-hour building security, and building recreation facilities. At an extra cost, we provide cribs, high chairs, playpens, and other family-friendly essentials.

Not only that, we specialize in insurance housing solutions. You’ll receive competitive, tax-free nightly rates and the convenience of working with a company that has established relationships with Toronto-area insurance providers. 

For more information, read our page on insurance housing solutions at DelSuites.