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B-257744 1 (1996-02-09)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptadpg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Comptroller General of the United States Washington, D.C. 20548 Decision Matter of: Valerie E. Taylor File: B-257744 Date: February 9, 1996 DIGEST An employee performed temporary duty away from her official station, rented an apartment at the temporary duty site, and was required to pay a tenancy initiation fee as a nonrefundable move-in expense. The fee may be reimbursed as a lodging cost under 41 C.F.R. §§ 301-7.1(c)(1)(i) and 301-7.14(a)(1), if the agency determines that the expense incurred is commonly charged in the geographical area and is reasonable in amount. DECISION This decision responds to a request from an authorized certifying officer, National Finance Center, Department of Agriculture (USDA).1 The question asked is whether an employee may be reimbursed a tenancy initiation fee charged in connection with renting an apartment incident to the performance of temporary duty. We conclude that the fee may be reimbursed as a lodging cost, for the following reasons. Ms. Valerie E. Taylor, an employee of the Forest Service, USDA, stationed in San Diego, California, was authorized to perform temporary duty in San Francisco during the period of August 30 to September 30, 1993. Because she was to be in San Francisco for at least 1 month, she rented an apartment rather than stay in a hotel. The agency reports that her action resulted in substantial savings to the government. In addition to her rent, she was required to pay a nonrefundable $100 tenancy initiation fee to cover the landlord's advertising, administrative, and accounting expenses associated with generating a new tenancy. The fee is refundable only if the unit rented is unavailable for occupancy on the date specified in the rental agreement. The agency disallowed payment of the tenancy initiation fee since the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) does not specifically provide for reimbursement of such administrative fees. Ms. Taylor and her supervisor on reclaim argue that the 1Ms. Sandra S. Williams-Reference FSD-1 RJP. 22821

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