§302-5.6. Methods for reimbursing househunting trip expenses.
41 C.F.R. § 302-5.6
Agencies will reimburse househunting trip expenses as follows:
Transportation expenses— the employee and their spouse's actual transportation costs.
Subsistence expenses— one of the following three:
For a CONUS househunting trip, a lodgings-plus per diem allowance at the standard CONUS rate, for the employee and/or their spouse or domestic partner if they travel separately, or if both travel together, a lodgings-plus per diem allowance at the standard CONUS rate for the 10 days or less that the agency authorizes. The employee receives 100% of the rate and the spouse or domestic partner receives 75%;
For an OCONUS househunting trip, a lodgings-plus per diem allowance at the locality rate, for the employee and/or their spouse or domestic partner if they travel separately, or if both travel together, a lodgings-plus per diem allowance at the locality rate for the 10 days or less that the agency authorizes. The employee receives 100% of the rate and the spouse or domestic partner receives 75%; or
Only if offered by the agency and chosen by the employee, a lump sum, as follows—
If the employee performs a househunting trip and the spouse or domestic partner does not, or if the spouse or domestic partner performs a househunting trip and the employee does not, multiply the applicable locality rate by 5.00.
If the employee and their spouse or domestic partner both perform a househunting trip, together or separately, multiply the applicable locality rate by 6.25.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
Authority
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.
Source
Source: FTR Case 2025-05, 90 FR 56893, Dec. 8, 2025, unless otherwise noted.