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Claim for Reimbursement of Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses

B-197958 Mar 31, 1980
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Highlights

A certifying officer asked whether an employee could be reimbursed for temporary quarters subsistence expenses for the period that he and his wife occupied the detached garage of the house which he had purchased as his permanent residence incident to being transferred. The couple had initially stayed in a motel, but found that the allowances did not cover their expenses and, in order to reduce their living costs, rented a room in the garage of the home they had contracted to buy. They remained there until they were entitled to take possession of the house. The agency reimbursed the employee for the period they stayed in the motel, but disallowed the claim for the period they occupied the garage since it was considered occupation of a permanent residence. It was held that a garage is not generally intended to be living quarters and its occupancy does not constitute occupancy of a permanent residence. Therefore, an employee who has not obtained the right to occupy the residence portion of his new home may be paid temporary quarters subsistence expenses for his rental occupancy of the garage which is conveyed as a part of his purchase of the permanent residence.

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