15 FAM 200
housing abroad program
15 FAM 210
policy and responsibilities
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
(Office of Origin: OBO)
15 FAM 211 HOUSING ABROAD POLICY
15 FAM 211.1 Purposes and
Authorities
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
a. If U.S. citizen employees are assigned to a U.S.
mission abroad under chief-of-mission (COM) authority, they may receive housing
in U.S. Government-owned/-leased (GO/L) properties, or through the Living
Quarters Allowance and Military Overseas Housing Allowance (LQA and OHA)
programs. The objective of the housing program is to provide safe and secure
housing that meets the personal and professional requirements of employees, at
a cost most advantageous to the U.S. Government. For the purposes of this
policy, adequate housing is defined as housing comparable to what an employee
would occupy in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, with adjustments for
family size and locality abroad.
b. Housing abroad policy and space standards are
established pursuant to Section 156 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
FY 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101-246). The Department of State manages the
program, and delegates ultimate responsibility to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings
Operations (OBO). The objective of this decision was to ensure coherent,
cost-effective management of this extensive worldwide program.
c. The U.S. Government pools all its leased housing
for the purpose of assignment, except designated and dedicated residences.
(See 15 FAM 231,
Pooled Housing.) Beginning in 2015, only furnished GO/L housing will be
offered at furnished posts. With the exception of posts where the landlords
provide all furniture and appliances for all units, all furnished posts must have
a furniture and appliance pool policy in place. (See 6 FAH-5 H-512,
Post Housing Pools.)
15 FAM 211.2 Scope and
Applicability
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
The policies and standards outlined in this subchapter
apply to:
(1) Employees of all agencies serving abroad who come
under COM authority;
(2) All U.S. Government-held property; and
(3) Housing acquired under Living Quarters Allowance
(LQA) and Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) programs.
No other housing policy takes precedence over or alters
these provisions. Under its independent legislative authorities, the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID)
uses this interagency policy to manage its properties. 15 FAM 250 and 15 FAM 260
contain the procedures to implement these regulations. Direct all questions or
comments to the Directorate for Planning and Real Estate, Bureau of Overseas
Buildings Operations (OBO/PRE), or to the Overseas Management Division, Bureau
for Management, USAID/Washington (USAID/W - M/MS/OMD).
15 FAM 212 RESPONSIBILITIES
15 FAM 212.1 General
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
The COM or principal officer (PO) is ultimately
responsible for ensuring the effective management of the post housing program.
The Single Real Property Manager (SRPM) manages all aspects of the real property
programincluding the housing programto ensure compliance with policies and
regulations. (See 15
FAM 113.)
15 FAM 212.2 Interagency Housing
Board (IAHB)
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
Both Washington, DC and post have an established
Interagency Housing Board (IAHB), which ensures the fair and equitable
treatment of all employees within the parameters of the housing policy, and
appropriately considers the varied requirements of all agencies when making
decisions.
15 FAM 212.2-1 Washington
Interagency Housing Board (IAHB)
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
The Washington IAHB consists of representatives from
agencies with employees assigned to U.S. missions abroad, and is chaired by the
Director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO). OBO consults with
the Board to form policies regarding the housing program abroad, residential
space criteria, and locality adjustment factors. The Washington IAHB may also
adjudicate appeals submitted by member agencies on specific housing-related
issues not resolvable at post.
15 FAM 212.2-2 Post Interagency
Housing Board (IAHB)
15 FAM 212.2-2(A) Establishment
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
The COM/PO establishes an IAHB at every post with three or
more U.S. Government agencies. Posts IAHB functions as an independent working
group and reports to the COM/PO through the SRPM. The board implements housing
policies in compliance with the regulations and standards set forth in 15 FAM
200.
15 FAM 212.2-2(B) Board
Composition
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
a. General: The IAHB consists
of personnel representing all U.S. Government agencies at post, and should
include the range of personnel assigned, i.e., large and small agencies, senior
and junior personnel, and families and singles. Agencies representation on
the board should reflect their respective number of U.S. personnel at post.
Larger agencies may have one permanent representative on the board; smaller
agencies may represent each other on a rotating basis, may be represented by a
larger agency, or may be represented in some other manner (as determined by the
COM/PO and the principal representatives of the agencies concerned).
b. Size: The COM/PO determines
the total number of representatives; however, the recommended maximum size is
ten.
c. Membership: The principal
representatives of the agencies at post designate the individual members. The
board should include the regional security officer (RSO) to address housing
security issues, and the post occupational safety and health officer (POSHO) to
address residential housing health, safety, and POSHO-certification issues
related to housing. Both the RSO and the POSHO are ex officio, nonvoting
members. The COM/PO may assign ad hoc or at-large voting members to the board
to represent various points of view that might otherwise be underrepresented,
regardless of the parent agency affiliation (office management specialists
(OMSs), entry-level officers (ELOs), etc.). The board may include
representatives from the community liaison office (CLO), the general services
office (GSO), and the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) as ex
officio, nonvoting members.
d. State representation: An
officer other than the management counselor/officer, the general services
oOfficer(s), and any employee under their direct supervision, will represent
the Department of State. The SRPM serves on the board as an ex officio member,
and provides guidance on interpretation and application of policies and
regulations, and makes recommendations to the post IAHB.
e. Chairperson: Posts IAHB
chair should rotate every 12 months among senior members of the agencies
represented on the board. The COM/PO and deputy chief of mission (DCM) must
not be members of the board; these individuals serve in the direct line of
appeal if an employee disagrees with a board decision.
f. Meetings: Posts IAHB
should meet as often as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but at least
monthly for general coordination.
15 FAM 212.2-2(C) Post IAHB
Responsibilities
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
a. Under the SRPMs guidance, posts IAHB oversees the
implementation of the housing policy and standards of the 15 FAM, and ensures
they are equitably applied to employees of all agencies. Because of its
representative composition and familiarity with local housing conditions,
posts IAHB is the best vehicle to administer housing policy. Posts IAHB
should exercise its best collective judgment to reconcile employees housing
requirements with the intent of U.S. Government regulations and to make
decisions that are in the best interests of the U.S. Government.
b. Specific IAHB responsibilities are to:
(1) Apply the standards and procedures outlined in
this policy to posts housing program;
(2) Regularly review the existing U.S. Government-held
housing, ensuring retention of appropriate and cost-effective housing in the
post housing pool. Periodic market surveys must support these reviews;
(3) Establish (in consultation with OBO/PRE/RPL/PM)
rental control ceilings for housing in each category if post is not in the
rental benchmark program;
(4) Approve housing assignments;
(5) Review residential property leases, as needed;
(6) Review Living Quarters Allowance/Overseas Housing
Allowance (LQA/OHA) requests for residential quarters exceeding the space
standards or the established rental benchmark/rental control ceiling;
(7) Review posts policy on the viability of LQA/OHA
to ensure it is accurate and reflects local conditions (see 6 FAH-5
H-513.2-3);
(8) Identify items to be included in the post
furniture, furnishings, appliances, and equipment (FFA&E) pool (per 6 FAH-5
H-513.2-2);
(9) Review the conditions at post that determine
ranking on the locality index. When a change is necessary, the IAHB should
submit a justification memorandum to the COM/PO through the SRPM. If the
COM/PO concurs, submit the request to OBO for review and approval;
(10) Assist the SRPM with the preparation of, and make
revisions to, a post housing guidebook. The guidebook defines the housing
policy and outlines responsibilities for occupants of U.S. Government-held
housing and for recipients of LQAs. This guidebook should include, but is not
limited to:
(a) Guidelines on space authorizations and rental
benchmark/rental control ceilings;
(b) An interagency-approved list of provided furniture,
furnishings, and equipment (FF&E) in U.S. Government-furnished residential
quarters;
(c) Guidelines for short-term loan of U.S. Government
property for personal or official use; and
(d) Tenant responsibilities when occupying U.S.
Government-held quarters, e.g., the condition of quarters upon departure and
liabilities for damage.
15 FAM 212.3 Post Interagency
Housing Board (IAHB) Records
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
Posts IAHB must maintain written records of its meetings,
including justifications for decisions. In particular, post must document
one-time exceptions to policies, procedures, or regulations and keep the
records on file at post for 3 years (such as housing assignments larger than
warranted by family size and tier). Specifically, the IAHB must produce and transmit
written justification to the SRPM for each assignment that:
(1) Exceeds 15 FAM 200 guidelines for space; and/or
(2) Exceeds the rental benchmark (or the
internally-established rental control ceiling for posts not in the Rental
Benchmark Program) for rank and family size; and/or
(3) Would result in a unit being vacant for more than
90 days, i.e., not occupied by a U.S. direct-hire (USDH) officer to which the
unit is permanently assigned.
Upon request, these records will be made available to the
Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Government Accountability Office
(GAO), Department regional bureaus, and OBO, and will be used in annual
certifications. Such documentation does not preclude the requirement for
Washington, DC headquarters to approve leases or assignments exceeding posts
authority in 15 FAM 300.
15 FAM 212.4 Petitions and Appeals
of Housing Assignments
15 FAM 212.4-1 Petitions
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
At posts with sufficient vacant U.S. Government-held
units, employees may petition posts IAHB for alternative quarters prior to
occupying their assigned quarters. To grant or deny a petition, posts IAHB
does not necessarily need to hear a formal appeal stating the assigned quarters
are unsuitable. Note that an initial decision on a petition does not preclude
a subsequent appeal. Such petitions must not involve the acquisition of new
leases; they should be limited to prospective reassignment of currently vacant
properties already in the housing pool. The SRPM and posts IAHB should be
careful about granting such petitions and give due consideration to:
(1) Possible increases in maintenance costs;
(2) Change in cost to agencies (e.g., preoccupancy
painting, cleaning, or transient lodging) or
(3) Increasing the difficulty for efficient make-ready
scheduling.
If the government incurs increased costs due to a
reassignment approved for an employees personal reasons, the employee (not the
employees agency) must fully pay for all additional costsincluding any
make-ready expenses.
15 FAM 212.4-2 Appeals
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
An appeal is a formal request for a change of quarters,
which maintains the occupants assigned quarters are unsuitable. Employees who
wish to appeal an IAHB housing assignment must submit the justification to posts
IAHB and to the SRPM for review. If not resolved, it will be submitted to the
DCM and/or COM for a decision. If it is still not resolved at post, the
employee may appeal directly to his or her parent agency. A State Department
employee may submit their appeal to the appropriate regional bureaus executive
director for review. Provide copies of such appeals to the SRPM, who will then
forward copies to OBO and the regional bureau. The parent agency, in
consultation with OBO, must determine whether the issue warrants the Washington
IAHBs consideration. If the IAHBs initial assignment was proper, such
appeals must not involve the acquisition of new leases, and should be limited
to prospective reassignment of currently vacant properties already in the housing
pool.
15 FAM 212.4-3 Housing Options
Pending Decision of Appeal
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
Until a decision is made on an appeal, the employee may:
(1) Continue to receive Temporary Quarters Subsistence
Allowance (TQSA) benefits (not to exceed the maximum authorization set forth in
the Department of State Standardized Regulations, DSSR);
(2) Move into the assigned quarters;
(3) Occupy any vacant post transient housing; or
(4) Occupy alternate quarters at their own expense.
LQA/OHA cannot be authorized if appropriate U.S.
Government-held housing would remain vacant.
15 FAM 212.5 Post Housing
Guidelines
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
Each post must biennially prepare and update post housing
guidelines for employees and their eligible family members on official
assignment to post. The outline in 15 FAM Exhibit
212.5 can be adapted for individual posts when preparing such guidelines.
15 FAM 212.6 Annual Market Survey
of Housing
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
a. A survey of the local real estate market in all RSO-approved
neighborhoods (whether posts currently have residences there or not) provides
an objective assessment of market conditions, and enables posts to compare the
market with rents for the current housing inventory. Posts should use survey
results to establish rental ceilings and document conditions related to the
availability and cost of suitable housing. The survey should reflect the
housing selection criteria outlined in 15 FAM 228,
including maximum space standards, cost, distance, and security considerations.
b. Posts must conduct a market survey, at least
annually, and provide a copy of the survey to the Portfolio Management
Division, Office of Real Property Leasing, Directorate for Planning and Real
Estate, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO/PRE/RPL/PM) within 30 days
of completion. Post should use survey results and other appropriate market
research (cleared with OBO/PRE) to verify rental benchmarks and/or establish
rental control ceilings, and document conditions related to the availability
and cost of suitable housing. Posts must submit their annual housing market
survey by December 31 of each year.
15 fam 213 through 219 unassigned
15 FAM Exhibit 212.5
Post Housing Guidelines Outline
(CT:OBO-61; 11-07-2017)
Items marked with an asterisk (*) are required.
References are the applicable sections in 15 FAM noted
below.
I. Introduction
II. Housing Policy 211
*1. Post Interagency Housing Board (IAHB) 212.2-2
a. Composition 212.2-2(B)
b. Responsibilities and Functions 212.2-2(C)
*2. Housing Assignment Procedures
a. Criteria for Housing Assignments 260
b. Petitions and Appeals 212.4
III. Occupancy of U.S.
Government-Provided
Quarters
*1. Responsibilities
a. U.S. Government Responsibility 240;
252; 612
b. Occupant Responsibility 240;
612
Damage and Cleaning Deposits 247
Use of Quarters During Employees Absence 241
c. Landlord Responsibility 612
*2. Inventory of Furniture, Furnishings,
and Equipment
(FF&E)
736
a. Upon Arrival
b. Upon Departure
*3. Basic Furniture, Furnishings, and Equipment
(FF&E) Provided in U.S. Government-Furnished
Quarters 723
4. Schedule and Standards for Refurbishing 733
5. Maintenance 622
a. Work Order Requests
b. Access of Workers and Others to Quarters
c. Emergencies
6. Residential Telephones
7. Residential Keys
8. Inspection 247
IV. Privately Leased Quarters (if
applicable) 236
1. Policy and Space Standards Applicability 211
2. Housing in the Area
3. Special Lease Provisions 340
4. Rental Agent Fees 313.8
5. Procedures for Obtaining Living Quarters
Allowance (LQA) Advances
6. Temporary Equipment Loans
7. Telephones in LQA-Provided Quarters
V. Transient Quarters 249
1. Eligibility
2. Addresses and Telephone Numbers
of Transient Quarters
a. Telephoning to and from Post
b. Telephone Bills
3. Emergencies
VI. General Information for Occupants
(as applicable)
1. Hospitality Kits
2. Storage and Surplus Furniture Provision
For and Maintenance of All Appliances
and Equipment (Including Refrigerators, 120; 622; 632;
Washing Machines, Clothes Dryers, and 712; 720; 730;
Ranges) 762
3. Utilities and Building Operating Expenses (BOE)
4. Air Conditioners 622
5. Generators
6. Electric Current, Pest Control Services, 622;
957.2
Snow Removal
7. Lawns and Gardens 622
8. Domestic Employees 244
9. Parking/Garaging of Motor Vehicles 313.6
10. Recreational Facilities 313.7
11. Hobbies/Businesses 240
12. Pets 245
13. Residential Smoke Alarms 841
14. Portable Fire Extinguishers 842
15. Carbon Monoxide Alarms 970
16. Swimming Pool Barriers 970;
957.4
17. Surrender of Quarters 247
18. Packing Out