 |
 |
| 14.171 MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS |
| (Manufactured Housing) |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, Title VI, Public Law 93-383; 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.; as amended; Public Laws 95-128, 96-399, 100-242, 102-550 and 106-569. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To protect the quality, durability, safety and affordability of manufactured homes; to facilitate the availability of affordable manufactured homes and to increase home ownership for all Americans; to provide for the establishment of practical, uniform, and, to the extent possible, performance-based Federal construction standards for manufactured homes; to encourage innovative and cost-effective construction techniques for manufactured homes; and to protect residents of manufactured homes with respect to personal injuries and the amount of insurance costs and property damages in manufactured housing. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Dissemination of Technical Information; Investigation of Complaints. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Manufacturers who build "manufactured homes" as defined by the Act, for sale in the United States are subject to the Act and must comply with preemptive Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (24 CFR 3280). Designs of homes are reviewed for compliance, and homes are inspected during construction by HUD-approved third-party inspection agencies. Consumers receiving defective homes have recourse, ranging from the right to be notified that their home contains a defect, to correction by the manufacturer of serious defects and imminent safety hazards. Retailers are prohibited from selling homes which they know are not in compliance with the Federal Standards. As required by 2000 amendments to the Act, the Department has now established installation standards for siting of new manufactured homes. These installation standards cover joining of sections and anchoring, as well as stabilizing and support systems. As required by the same amendments to the Act, the Department has also established a national manufactured home dispute resolution program. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Any purchaser of a manufactured home built on or after June 15, 1976, for residential use is automatically covered by the program. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Any purchaser of a residential manufactured home built on or after June 15, 1976. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None required for the purchaser. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Not required. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Manufacturers must have designs for each manufactured home model to be produced, reviewed and approved by a HUD- approved third-party design inspection agency. Each home must be inspected during at least one phase of construction and every stage of manufacturing process inspected by a third-party in-plant inspection entity. A purchaser may file a complaint with HUD or a HUD-approved State Administrative Agency (SAA). This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110. |
| Award Procedure |
| Unless defects or noncompliance with the standards are found in homes, manufacturers may label and retailers may sell the units. If a purchaser complains, HUD or an SAA may request an investigation by the manufacturer or the dealer, and may then initiate enforcement actions under applicable regulations (24 CFR 3282). As required by 2000 amendments to the Act, the Department has established a dispute resolution program to provide for the timely resolution of disputes between manufacturers, installers, and retailers regarding responsibility for repairs. Consumers may file complaints and otherwise participate in this program. |
| Deadlines |
| Each manufactured home must bear a manufacturer's certification label, certifying compliance with the Federal Standards, before the home can be sold to a retailer or purchaser. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Not applicable. |
| Appeals |
| A manufacturer may appeal a preliminary determination, and be granted a hearing or presentation of views by HUD or by a State Administrative Agency (SAA) whenever homes are identified as having "serious defects" or "imminent safety hazards," and notification or correction would be required under the regulations. |
| Renewals |
| Not applicable. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| Not applicable. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| Reports |
| Not applicable. |
| Audits |
| Not applicable. |
| Records |
| A retailer is required, after selling a manufactured home, to fill out an information card listing the name of the purchaser and the home's location, and to send it to the home manufacturer. A manufacturer is required to maintain records relating to each home's production and service related work. |
| Account Identification |
| 86-5271-0-2-376. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $6,510,000; FY 08 est $16,000,000; and FY 09 est $16,000,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| Not applicable. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Regulatory oversight of over 100,000 new manufactured homes per year. In FY 08, the program has published Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards and will publish Manufactured Home Installation Program Regulations. The program also implemented the Manufactured Home Dispute Resolution Program. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards appear in the Code of Federal Regulations at 24 CFR 3280, et seq.; Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations appear at 24 CFR 3282, et seq. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| None. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Manufactured Housing, Room 9164, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410-8000. Telephone: (202) 708-6409. Fax: (202) 708-4213. Toll-free consumer hotline (leave message only): (800) 927-2891. E-mail: mhs@hud.gov. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/mhs/mhshome.cfm |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Not applicable. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Not applicable. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
|