|CHAPTER��4�-�EMPLOYEE�TRAVEL
    PART�C:��PERMANENT�CHANGE�OF�STATION�(PCS)�TRAVEL
        C4107��HOUSE�HUNTING�TRIP�(HHT)
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| | C4107� HOUSE HUNTING TRIP (HHT) | 
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| | A.� General.� | 
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| | A HHT may be authorized on an individual-case basis when an employee has accepted a permanent transfer and the employee's circumstances indicate the need for a HHT.� A HHT may not be authorized to assist the employee in deciding whether to accept the transfer.� Only the employee and/or spouse may travel on a HHT at Government expense.� The allowance for HHT expenses is intended to facilitate and expedite the move from the old PDS to the new PDS and to lower the Government's overall cost for the relocation by reducing the amount of time an employee must occupy temporary quarters.� The allowance for the HHT trip expenses provides the employee and/or spouse a period of time to concentrate on finding a suitable permanent residence at the new PDS and thereby expedites the employee's relocation. | 
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| | B.� Definitions | 
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| | 1.Househunting Trip.� | 
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| | A trip made by the employee and/or spouse to a new PDS locality to find permanent living quarters to rent or purchase. | 
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| | 2.Living Quarters.� | 
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| | Apartments, condominiums, and cooperatives in addition to townhomes and single family homes. | 
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| | C.Eligible Employees.� | 
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| | An employee may be authorized a HHT when: | 
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| | 1.a PCS is authorized;� | 
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| | 2.both old and new PDS are located within the United States;� | 
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| | 3.Government or other prearranged housing isn't assigned at the new PDS; and,� | 
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| | 4.the old and new PDS are 75 or more miles apart (as measured by map distance) via a usually traveled surface route. | 
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| | D.Individuals Ineligible for HHT.� | 
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| | A HHT isn't authorized for: | 
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| | 1.new appointees or their dependents covered under par. C4051;� | 
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| | 2. employees authorized transportation for dependents and/or HHG to or from a training location when the transportation is authorized in lieu of per diem or actual expense allowance while at the training location under the provisions of par. C4502;� | 
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| | 3.children. | 
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| | E.Separate Trips By Employee and Spouse. | 
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| | Only one round trip for househunting may be authorized for the employee and/or spouse in connection with a PCS.� Separate round trips by the employee and spouse may be allowed provided the overall cost to the Government is limited to the cost of one round trip for the employee and spouse traveling together. | 
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| | F.When HHT May Begin.� | 
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| | A HHT may begin as soon as the employee is notified of the transfer and: | 
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| | 1.receives a PCS order authorizing the HHT in advance of the PCS travel (see subpar. Q for travel order requirements);� | 
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| | 2.the employee signs a transportation agreement; and� | 
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| | 3.the DOD component establishes, and informs the employee of, the employee's reporting date to the new PDS. | 
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| | G.When HHT Must be Completed.� | 
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| | An employee's round trip househunting travel must be completed by the day before reporting to the new PDS.� A spouse's round trip househunting travel must be completed by (1) the day before relocation of the family to the new PDS, or (2) the expiration of the maximum time for beginning allowable travel and transportation, whichever is earlier. (NOTE:� The maximum time for beginning allowable travel and transportation is normally 2 years from the date the employee reports for duty at the new PDS.� See par. C1057 for extensions). | 
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| | H.Who May Authorize HHT.� | 
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| | After considering subpar. I, an order-issuing official or designee may authorize a HHT.� The order-issuing official or designee must determine: | 
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| | 1.if a HHT is necessary;� | 
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| | 2.whether subsistence reimbursement is to be per diem under the lodgings-plus� method (subpar. O1) or fixed amount (subpar. O2);� | 
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| | 3.the appropriate duration of a HHT;� | 
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| | 4.the authorized mode(s) of transportation to and from the new PDS location; and� | 
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| | 5.the authorized transportation mode(s) for local travel while househunting at the new PDS location. | 
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| | I.Considerations | 
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| | 1.General.� | 
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| | The HHT expenses allowance must be administered to minimize or avoid its use when other satisfactory and more economical alternatives are available.� An order-issuing official or designee must consider subpars. 2 through 6 before authorizing a HHT. | 
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| | 2.Arranging Permanent Quarters Before Move.� | 
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| | If the employee has a large family and must promptly vacate the residence at the old PDS, it might be less costly to the Government, as well as more convenient to the employee, to complete arrangements for new residence quarters before the move actually takes place. | 
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| | 3.Arranging Permanent Quarters While in Temporary Quarters.� | 
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| | If the employee has no family or a small family, it might be less costly to allow the employee (and family) to remain in temporary quarters at the new PDS for a longer period than might otherwise normally be required, subject to limitations, until the employee finds permanent quarters. | 
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| | 4.Avoiding Advance Trip.� | 
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| | If payment for temporary quarters is to be authorized, a HHT may be avoided.� It might be less costly to the Government, and more satisfactory to the employee, for the employee's dependents to remain at the residence in the old PDS locality while the employee occupies temporary quarters at the new PDS.� During that time the employee can select permanent quarters after becoming familiar with the new PDS area. | 
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| | 5.On TDY at New PDS. | 
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| | When an employee is on TDY at a new PDS for a period before the permanent transfer is effective, a HHT should be unnecessary. | 
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| | 6.Housing Information Assistance.� | 
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| | It might be possible for the DOD component to avoid or shorten the duration of a trip by providing assistance and information� to� an� employee concerning housing conditions and markets at the new PDS location. | 
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| | J.Prohibitions.� | 
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| | Househunting trips aren't authorized under the following circumstances: | 
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| | 1.when an employee is to be assigned to Government or other prearranged residence quarters at the new PDS location;� | 
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| | 2.when the employee hasn't yet formally agreed to transfer to the new PDS;� | 
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| | 3.when either the old or new PDS, or both, are located outside the United States; or� | 
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| | 4.when the distance between the old and new PDS is less than 75 miles (as measured by map distance) via a usually traveled surface route. | 
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| | K.� Duration of Trip.� | 
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| | Househunting travel should be authorized for a reasonable period of time considering distance between the old and new PDS, transportation mode, and the housing situation at the new PDS location.� A HHT, including travel time, shall not exceed 10 calendar days. | 
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| | L.� Transportation to/from New PDS Locality. | 
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| | In authorizing or allowing a particular transportation mode, the objective shall be minimizing time en route and maximizing time at the new PDS locality.� Accordingly, if the use of a POC is permitted, this use is considered advantageous to the Government and the mileage allowance shall be as provided in par. C4250-A.� If the employee travels by other than the authorized mode, reimbursement shall be actual transportation expenses but no more than the cost of the authorized transportation. | 
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| | M.� Local Transportation.� | 
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| | Reasonable expense for local transportation at the location of the new PDS shall be allowed.� Local transportation by common carrier, local transportation systems, MTMC negotiated agreement rental or other commercially rented automobiles, or POC at the applicable mileage rate in par. C4250-A may be authorized.� However, the local transportation mode must be consistent with the transportation mode authorized for travel to and from the PDS.� Expenses for the use of taxis shall be limited to transportation between depots, airports, or other carrier terminals and place of lodging. | 
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