Real Estate Expenses Related to Transfer

A Disbursing Officer for the Lakehurst Naval Air Station requested a decision on the propriety of payment of a travel voucher for reimbursement of relocation expenses. The employee commuted to his new station for 3 months and later rented an apartment nearby. Settlement was made on the new residence after the initial 1-year time limitation on reimbursements of real estate purchase expenses. Since settlement was made within 2 years of transfer, reimbursement may be made if the employee's request for time extension was administratively granted upon the basis that the purchase of the residence was reasonably related to the transfer.