Our homeowners insured sustained a loss, and it has taken a long time for the insurer to adjust the claim. We are wondering about additional living expense for this time, when the delay has been caused by a failure to reach settlement. If payment is "for the shortest time required to repair or replace the damage," who determines what the "shortest time" is?

Massachusetts Subscriber

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. It appears that a delay in beginning to rebuild that forces a lengthened timeframe for loss of use, unless for some reason the insured has been dragging his or her feet, allows for continued payment of additional living expense. Each situation, then, must be decided based on the facts of that situation.