Request for Reimbursement of Real Estate Expenses

A decision was requested concerning an employee's claim for reimbursement of brokerage fees for the sale of his mobile home property incident to his transfer to a new permanent duty station. At the time the employee accepted the position at his new duty station, he was living in temporary quarters because a fire had destroyed his mobile home, and the insurance company had not settled the claim. Regulations provide that selling fees of the old residence may be reimbursed provided that the dwelling was the employee's residence at the time he was first definitely informed of his transfer to the new official station. Since the employee would have resided in the house except for the fire, GAO found that he had substantially complied with the occupancy requirements of the regulations. Therefore, reimbursements of the brokerage fees for the sale of the property on which the home was located was allowed.