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Part 2 - Main Benefits
Chapter 4. House Hunting Trip (HHT) and Destination Inspection Trip (DIT)

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4.01 General

  1. This chapter sets out the entitlements related to a HHT and a DIT.
  2. When proceeding on a HHT to search for a new residence, a member must be aware of both the geographical boundaries and the place of duty in relation to their new permanent workplace. See Section 1.4 and Section 2.6 for details.
  3. The entitlements contained in this chapter may be modified (limited or enhanced) by specific provisions contained in Part 3 of this directive.

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4.02 Purpose

  1. The purpose of a HHT is to secure accommodation at the new place of duty on such terms that will facilitate, as much as possible, a door-to-door move in order to minimize the number of days of ILM&M, and SIT costs.
  2. The purpose of a DIT is to visit the new place of duty and provide the opportunity to:
    1. inspect the new residence; or
    2. make arrangements for the storage of HG&E, or for supervising the delivery of the HG&E to a storage facility (but not both), when the member is only exercising the option at CAFRD 14.4.02 (Move of HG&E – options) to move HG&E to a storage facility at the IPR.

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4.03 Eligibility

  1. A member may proceed on either a HHT or a DIT, not both.
  2. A member who does not have secured accommodation at the new place of duty, may proceed on a HHT.
  3. A member who has secured accommodation, purchased property, contracted for the construction of a replacement residence at the new place of duty, or are only exercising the option at CAFRD 14.4.02 (Move of HG&E – options) to move HG&E to a storage facility at the IPR, may proceed on a DIT.
  4. For greater certainty, a member who continues to own a previously-occupied residence at the new place of duty which the member will not re-occupy is deemed not to have secured accommodation at the new place of duty.

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4.04 Conversion of HHT to DIT

  1. When a member conducts a HHT to a place of duty where the member continues to own a previously-occupied residence, does not secure separate accommodation and subsequently re-occupies that owned residence, the HHT shall be converted to a DIT.
  2. Where HHT expenses have been reimbursed to the member, the member is responsible to repay the Crown the difference between the additional expenses received from the HHT and the entitlements authorized for a DIT.

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4.05 Additional entitlements

In addition to the benefits outlined in this chapter, a member may be entitled to reimbursement under CAFRD:

  1. 3.3.04 (Toll, ferry and parking charges);
  2. 3.4.02 (Pet expenses); and
  3. 3.4.05 (Travel delays).

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Section 4.1 Planning

4.1.01 Timing

  1. The HHT or DIT cannot be taken before the posting instruction message (for Regular Force) or the authorization to move message (for Reserve Force) is issued.
  2. The HHT is normally conducted before the TNL, however the HHT may, in the circumstances set out in CAFRD 5.07 (HHT after TNL), be taken immediately upon arrival at the new place of duty. There are no provisions to conduct a DIT after arrival at the new place of duty.

(C) (amended, effective 15 June 2023)

4.1.02 Approval to travel

  1. A member requires local authority approval to travel on a HHT or a DIT.
  2. The local authority must be as flexible as possible in approving the HHT or DIT dates requested by the member.
  3. Unless in this chapter a member is required to use paid leave, a member is on duty during HHT or DIT days.
  4. For the purposes of paragraph (3), it includes a service spouse who is not posted but who will accompany their spouse who is posted.

(C) (amended, effective 15 June 2023)

Section 4.2 Duration and Funding

4.2.01 Standard HHT

  1. A Standard HHT includes up to five days at the new location. This is exclusive of the travelling time to and from the HHT location, except in the case of a short distance HHT under CAFRD 4.2.05.
  2. Due to the limitation of flights, when proceeding from Thule, Greenland or Clear, Alaska, a member is authorized 11 days for the Standard HHT at the new location.
  3. For a Standard HHT, eligible expenses are funded from:
    1. the Core Account for the member and the spouse, or one other dependant in the place of the member or spouse; and
    2. the Custom Account for any other accompanying dependant.

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4.2.02 Extended HHT

  1. A member may extend the duration of the HHT by up to an additional four days and four nights when required for the purpose of securing accommodation or addressing other member/dependant issues.
  2. Paid leave must be used for the Extended HHT days.
  3. If not booked in advance, a member may contact the contracted relocation service provider to make the necessary travel amendments, or may make the travel amendments themselves and claim the expenses after return from HHT.
  4. All eligible expenses for all travellers for the additional days/nights, and any additional expenses to amend the travel, are funded from the Custom Account.

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4.2.03 Additional HHTs

  1. When the first HHT is unsuccessful, a member may take additional HHTs.
  2. Any unused days of the five days allotted for the first Standard HHT shall be applied towards the second HHT. For any other days on additional HHTs:
    1. paid leave must be used; and
    2. all eligible expenses are funded from the Custom Account.

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4.2.04 DIT

  1. A DIT includes up to three days at the new location. This is exclusive of the travelling time to and from the DIT location, except in the case of a short distance DIT under CAFRD 4.2.05.
  2. There are no provisions for an extended DIT or for additional DITs at public expense.
  3. For a DIT, transportation and travelling expenses are funded from:
    1. the Core Account for either the member or the spouse, not both; and
    2. the Custom Account for any accompanying dependant.

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4.2.05 Short distance HHT/DIT

  1. Where the old and new permanent workplaces are within a reasonable daily commuting distance as determined by the local authority, the local authority may approve a member’s request to conduct a short distance HHT/DIT whereby the member travels back and forth each day via PMV in lieu of receiving any lodgings benefit under CAFRD 4.5.01.
  2. When a member elects to conduct a short distance HHT/DIT, the following conditions apply:
    1. the number of days that a member is entitled to claim are in accordance with CAFRD subsections 4.2.01 to 4.2.04. The short distance HHT/DIT days do not have to be consecutive;
    2. there is no entitlement to any travel days under CAFRD 4.3.01;
    3. the daily kilometric allowance is payable for each day travelled;
    4. a daily meal allowance is payable for each day travelled; and
    5. incidentals are not payable.
  3. Meals and the daily kilometric allowance are funded from the spending accounts in accordance with CAFRD subsections 4.2.01 to 4.2.04.

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Section 4.3 Travel and transportation

4.3.01 Travel time

  1. Total travel time shall be no more than two days, except when the round-trip travel by commercial airline cannot be accomplished in that period because of distances and/or connections. See also CAFRD 12.1.02 (Long Travel).
  2. When a member selects a slower mode of transportation that causes additional travel time and travelling expenses, then:
    1. additional expenses shall not be reimbursed; and
    2. paid leave must be utilized for the additional travel days.

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4.3.02 Transportation to and from HHT/DIT location

  1. Transportation expenses are reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3.

Travel by road

  1. Expenses for travel by PMV, motorcycle or rental vehicle are funded from the Core Account for the first HHT or for a DIT.

Travel by commercial carrier

  1. Travel by commercial airline or by train shall be in accordance with CAFRD subsections 3.3.05 and 3.3.06 respectively.
  2. For service or compassionate reasons or when it is more practical and/or economical to do so, when approved by the local authority, commercial travel may commence from or terminate at locations other than the usual transportation terminal closest to the member’s current residence or new place of duty. However, when bookings from or to third locations are made for personal reasons, the amount reimbursed for that travel shall not exceed the cost of travelling between the usual transportation terminals closest to the member’s current residence or new place of duty.
  3. A member may extend the return date (or advance the departure date) of their commercial travel from/to the HHT/DIT location with an approved leave pass for other than an extended HHT under CAFRD 4.2.02. There is no entitlement to any additional HHT/DIT benefits during that period of leave.
  4. Once commercial travel has been arranged, the only changes that may be made to the travel itinerary at public expense are for:
    1.  
      1. service or compassionate reasons and must be made through the contracted relocation service provider; or
      2. extended HHT (see CAFRD 4.2.02).
  5. Commercial travel expenses are funded from the spending accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 (Duration and Funding).

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4.3.03 Local transportation

  1. At origin, expenses for local transportation to/from the commercial transportation terminal on the departure/return dates are reimbursable.
  2. Local transportation expenses at the HHT/DIT location are reimbursed in accordance with Section 3.3 and the following:
    1. if travel to the HHT/DIT location was via commercial carrier, then rental vehicle expenses or local commercial transportation expenses not to exceed the cost of a rental vehicle, or
    2. if travel to the HHT/DIT location was via rental vehicle, then additional rental vehicle expenses for local travel, or
    3. if travel to the HHT/DIT location was via PMV or motorcycle, the kilometric allowance for actual local travel not to exceed the cost of a rental vehicle.
  3. These expenses are funded from the spending accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 (Duration and Funding).

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Section 4.4 Meals and incidentals

4.4.01 Meal and Incidental expenses

  1. For each person travelling, a member shall be reimbursed a meal allowance in accordance with CAFRD 3.1.01 (Meal entitlement).
  2. For the member only, or for one dependant travelling in place of the member, incidentals as per the rate in the NJC Relocation Directive.
  3. These expenses are funded from the spending accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 (Duration and Funding).

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Section 4.5 Lodgings

4.5.01 Lodging expenses

  1. A member is entitled to be reimbursed lodging expenses in accordance with Section 3.2.
  2. These expenses are funded from the spending accounts in accordance with Section 4.2 (Duration and Funding).

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Section 4.6 Other expenses during HHT or DIT

4.6.01 Dependant care assistance

  1. A member may be assisted with dependant care costs for:
    1. dependants under 18 years of age; and/or
    2. dependants 18 years of age and over who are incapable of caring for themselves due to a physical or mental disability.
  2. A member is entitled to be reimbursed under paragraphs (3) to (6) or under paragraph (7), but not both.

Dependant Care Assistance

  1. A member is entitled to be reimbursed dependant care expenses that are in excess of existing dependant care arrangements. The dependant care expenses may be at both origin and the HHT/DIT location, depending on the requirement.
  2. The daily maximum amount reimbursable for dependant care expenses, with a declaration or a receipt as applicable, are established by the NJC Travel Directive.
  3. The daily maximum amount at paragraph (4) is funded from:
    1. the Core Account, when on:
      1. Standard HHT, or
      2. DIT if single parent, or if service spouse is away for service reasons (Temporary Duty, Attached Posted, Operations, etc.); and
    2. the Custom Account in any other case.
  4. Additional daily dependant care expenses in excess of the daily maximum amount at paragraph (5) are reimbursed from the Custom Account.

Alternative Option

  1. In lieu of any reimbursement under paragraphs (3) to (6), a member is entitled to be reimbursed from the Custom Account for round-trip transportation expenses for a third party to travel from a third location to either the origin or the HHT/DIT location to provide dependant care. Reimbursement is limited to the cost of round-trip transportation for one dependant to travel between the origin and the HHT/DIT location.

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4.6.02 Phone, fax and internet expenses

A member is entitled to be reimbursed from the Core Account for actual and reasonable phone/fax/internet expenses, to a maximum of $50 for a HHT or to a maximum of $30 for a DIT.

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