The Short Version
Temporary lodging pays for a roof while the household goods catch up. It does not pay for a house-hunting vacation. On a stateside PCS, Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) is lodging near the duty station you are leaving or joining. Overseas, Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) covers the hotel or temporary quarters while you get into permanent housing after you arrive.
Which lodging rule you are under
| Situation | What applies | Limit in this site’s table |
|---|---|---|
| CONUS to CONUS | TLE | Up to 21 days total, daily cap $290. Split between old and new station if needed. |
| Certified housing shortage | TLE extension | Up to 60 days, in 10-day increments, only if finance authorizes it. |
| OCONUS move, stateside side | TLE | Up to 7 days. |
| OCONUS gaining station | TLA | Ordinarily up to 60 days while you seek permanent housing. Extensions exist when housing is delayed for reasons beyond your control. |
| Looking at houses in another city | Leave, unless written otherwise | Not TLE. |
If your household goods are the reason you are still in a hotel, read when temporary lodging can stretch because the shipment is late. That extension is about a delayed delivery, not about wanting a longer house hunt.
House hunting, said plainly
Civilians often get a house-hunting trip. Uniformed members do not get that trip as a standard JTR entitlement. If you fly ahead to walk neighborhoods, you are on leave unless the command puts a different authority in writing.
Overseas, people do look at houses after they arrive. TLA is what covers the temporary roof during that search. It is not a second entitlement called a house-hunting trip, and you still should not sign a lease until the housing office clears it. Start with the overseas guides and OHA vs BAH.
How to file without losing the days
- Book lodging near the old or new permanent duty station, not a resort two hours away because the points were better.
- Save itemized receipts. A card swipe with no daily rate is how a voucher stalls.
- Claim it on DD Form 1351-2 with DLA, MALT, and per diem.
- If you think you need more than 21 CONUS days, ask finance about a shortage-area extension before day 22. Do not occupy the room and argue later.
The PCS planner switches the lodging line between 21-day TLE and the OCONUS TLE-plus-TLA pattern when your gaining station is overseas. Regulations: Joint Travel Regulations.
