Claim for Temporary Quarters Subsistence Expenses

An authorized certifying officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requested an advance decision regarding payment of a voucher submitted by an employee of HUD for temporary quarters allowance claimed in connection with a permanent change of duty station. The employee rented an apartment on August 7 with a 1-year lease beginning August 2 but did not actually move into the apartment until August 30. The employee explained that he did not occupy the apartment until August 30 because of the time needed to effect the move from Chicago to San Francisco. He contended, however, that it was necessary to lease the apartment before August 30 because of a shortage of available apartments. Federal Travel Regulations provide that subsistence expenses incident to a permanent change of station shall be allowed while the employee and family necessarily occupy temporary quarters. Since there was no occupancy from August 2 to August 30, the regulations do not permit reimbursement of rent paid for that period. Thus, the claim was denied.