Does home insurance cover temporary accommodation after a fire?

Yes, in the policy wording we read, temporary accommodation is covered if your home becomes uninhabitable after a fire. It is a Standard Feature, so there is no additional excess beyond the one for the fire claim itself. Source: retail home insurance PDS, Standard Features section.

Three conditions must be met: (1) the home must be your permanent residence, (2) it must be unliveable because of the fire, and (3) it must be being repaired or rebuilt. Source: retail home insurance PDS, Temporary accommodation costs section.

The wording pays the necessary and reasonable costs of: temporary alternative accommodation for you, your family and your pets (taking into account availability and your circumstances); moving into the temporary accommodation; moving back once the home is liveable; and extra expenses from living elsewhere, such as mail redirection and utility connections. Source: retail home insurance PDS, Temporary accommodation costs section.

The wording pays up to the lesser of: (1) costs incurred up to 24 months from the fire, or (2) 20% of your buildings sum insured. The benefit is paid in addition to the buildings sum insured, so it does not reduce your main claim. If the buildings claim is accepted but you decide not to rebuild, only the costs for the time a repair or rebuild would have taken are paid. Source: retail home insurance PDS, Temporary accommodation costs section.

Wordings differ between insurers, and the same insurer's retail policy (bought direct) and broker-arranged policy can have different limits and conditions. Check the PDS and schedule for your own policy, or ask your broker. Where it is safe to do so, contact your insurer first about emergency temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Source: retail home insurance PDS, Emergency temporary repairs section.