After a flood, fire or major leak, most home insurance policies include alternative accommodation—a budget to keep your family living comfortably while repairs are completed. Many homeowners don’t realise this can include a temporary kitchen pod, which lets you stay at home and keep routines intact.

What is Alternative Accommodation Cover?

Alternative accommodation (AA) pays for a reasonable place to live when your home becomes partially or fully uninhabitable due to an insured event. Traditionally this meant hotels or short‑term rentals, but insurers increasingly support solutions that keep families at home where possible.

• Trigger: An insured peril makes all or part of the home unusable (e.g., a destroyed kitchen after a fire).
• Scope: Reasonable, necessary costs during repairs.
• Goal: Minimise disruption and overall claim cost.

Are Temporary Kitchen Pods Covered?

Often—yes. If a pod reduces total claim cost and keeps your family at home, many insurers will approve it.

• Cost‑effective: Multi‑week hotel or Airbnb stays add up quickly; a pod is usually cheaper.
• Family‑friendly: You keep beds, pets, school runs and routines.
• Practical: Full cooking and washing facilities avoid expensive eating out.

Ask for a written quote from us to compare against short‑let costs. We can invoice insurers directly.

Questions to Ask Your Insurer

1. Does my policy include alternative accommodation and what are the limits?
2. Can a temporary kitchen pod be approved instead of Airbnb/hotel?
3. Will you pay the provider directly, or reimburse me?
4. How long will approval take? (We can hold dates if needed.)
5. Do I need to provide multiple quotes?

How the Claims Process Works

1. Report the damage: Start your claim with your insurer or broker.
2. Get a quote: Contact Galleys for an insurer‑ready quotation.
3. Approval: Loss adjuster reviews options (hotel vs pod) and approves the most suitable.
4. Install: We deliver and set up the pod so you can keep cooking at home.
5. Collect: Once repairs are complete, we collect and clean the pod.

Next Steps

If your policy includes AA, you can request a pod as your preferred option. Send your claims handler our quote—if it’s cheaper than moving out for several weeks, approval is likely.

Conclusion

Alternative accommodation isn’t just hotels: a temporary kitchen pod can be a cost‑effective, family‑friendly solution that keeps life running during repairs. We work with insurers across Cornwall & Devon to make the process fast and straightforward.

Get a free quote or ask us for a written comparison for your insurer.