How Long Does Temporary Housing Last in a Relocation Package?

Apartment buildings above the coastal cliffs of Miraflores in Lima Peru representing temporary housing options for employees relocating internationally

A relocation package may cover 30, 60, or 90 days of temporary corporate housing for relocating employees. Your employer sets the limit. Some packages provide a shorter or longer stay; others offer a dollar budget instead.

A delayed closing can leave you waiting for keys just as company-paid housing is ending. That is the gap to plan for before you commit to a booking.

Comparing temporary housing allowances

These are planning examples, not industry averages or guaranteed benefits. Your employer’s policy sets your allowance, which may exceed 90 days.

Allowance	When it may fit	What to plan for
30 days	A straightforward move with a near-term lease or move-in date.	Begin the home search before arrival.
60 days	A move requiring more search time or coordination with a home closing.	Review progress well before the final month.
90 days	A longer home search or overseas arrangements still in progress.	Set milestones and confirm the policy’s maximum.

A three-month minimum stay is a poor match for a 30-day benefit. Before signing, work out who would pay for the remaining time.

Make sure to review the terms of your temporary housing lease with your consultant to ensure you and your employer will not be responsible for additional time beyond your allowed days.

What affects how long you need temporary housing?

The time you need in temporary corporate housing depends on what still has to happen before you can move into a permanent home.

Domestic relocations

If your lease starts two weeks after you arrive, you have a clear gap to cover. A home purchase is harder to time. An accepted offer still leaves the mortgage closing process ahead.

A rental that does not allow pets will not work if you are bringing a dog. With home-finding support before the move, you can check those restrictions before spending time on viewings.

International relocations

For an overseas move, finding a home may not end the need for furnished housing. Your furniture could still be in transit. Immigration delays can shift your arrival date as well, so the reservation needs to follow the actual travel plans. A longer stay is something to discuss with your employer, not an automatic international-move benefit.

Planning a 60-day stay

Woman wearing headphones using a laptop beside an open suitcase in a living room representing a relocating employee planning a temporary housing stay — Before arrival, confirm your authorized dates, spending limit, and included expenses. The earlier you start planning the home search, the less likely you are to need an extension.

One possible schedule for a 60-day allowance is:

Before arrival: Confirm the approved dates and budget before booking.
Days 1–14: View homes and submit applications or offers.
Days 15–30: Check progress with your consultant. Raise delays before the property’s renewal or notice deadline.
Days 31–60: Arrange the move and checkout, or secure an extension before the benefit ends.

Base this schedule on the start date in your policy. Coverage may end sooner if your permanent home becomes available.

Paying for temporary housing

At $150 a night, a $6,000 housing-only budget pays for 40 nights before extras. Even with a 60-day allowance, a $6,000 housing-only budget runs out after 40 nights at $150 a night, before extras. Make sure to ask for the full booking price, including fees, before choosing a property.

When the company arranges housing, it may pay the property directly. Reimbursement means you pay approved costs first and submit receipts, so find out how quickly you will be reimbursed.

With a lump sum relocation, you manage a fixed budget. Unless housing has its own allocation, a more expensive apartment leaves less for the rest of the move.

Which housing options fit a temporary stay?

Hand holding house keys with a house keychain in an apartment doorway representing the moment a relocating employee transitions from temporary housing to a permanent home — Getting the keys to a permanent home is the finish line. A delayed closing can push that date back, which is why extension requests should go in before the benefit runs out.

The Corporate Housing Providers Association describes corporate housing as professionally managed, furnished accommodation, generally for stays longer than 30 days.

For a longer stay, a furnished apartment gives you a kitchen for everyday meals. Serviced apartments may add housekeeping, depending on the rate. An extended-stay hotel is another option, particularly when the move-in date is uncertain; compare its kitchen and laundry facilities before booking.

Can temporary housing be extended?

If your closing slips by ten days, request those ten days rather than an open-ended extension. Give your consultant the new move-in date so they can confirm if the housing can be extended and estimate the additional costs. The person responsible under your employer’s policy must approve the extra nights and cost in writing before the reservation can be extended.

The property needs to agree to the extra nights, too. It might already have another guest booked.

If your housing benefit runs out

Without approval for more nights, plan on paying for any extra stay yourself. A cheaper property may make sense, but factor in any cancellation charges on the existing booking before moving.

When employees keep needing more time

For HR, repeated extensions in one city are worth investigating. The problem may be the housing market rather than how actively employees are searching.

Relocation cost forecasting and policy analysis can help your team compare the allowance with actual stays before changing the policy.

CapRelo’s temporary accommodation coordination helps employees find housing and handles lease and payment arrangements, with check-ins throughout the stay.