I. Description of Program
The
Manufactured Housing Program is a consumer protection program that
regulates the construction of certain factory built housing units,
called manufactured homes, formerly known as mobile homes. The HUD
program also oversees the enforcement of the construction standards
working through private inspection agencies and State governments.
II. HUD Manufactured Home Construction Standards
Manufactured
homes are built as dwelling units of at least 320 square feet in
size with a permanent chassis to assure the initial and continued
transportability of the home. All transportable sections of manufactured
homes built in the U.S. after June 15, 1976, must contain a red
label. The label is the manufacturer's certification that the home
section is built in accordance with HUD's construction and safety
standards. HUD standards cover Body and Frame Requirements, Thermal
Protection, Plumbing, Electrical, Fire Safety and other aspects
of the home. They are published in the Code of Federal Regulations
at 24 CFR 3280.
III. Consumer Complaints
HUD
has entered into cooperative agreements with 38 State governments
to conduct periodic checks of plant records and to respond to consumer
complaints. These State governments each designate a State
Administrative Agency (SAA). HUD staff carry out these functions
in the other 12 States without SAAs.
If
you have any complaints about the performance of your manufactured
home that have not been resolved by the retailer where you purchased
the home or by the manufacturer that produced the home, you should
first contact the SAA where you live, or HUD if you do not live
in a State with an SAA. It is important to provide the following
information with your complaint:
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Your
name, address and a telephone number where you can be reached
during the day;
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The
name of the manufacturer, serial and model number, label number
(the red tag on the back of the home), the date purchased and
the retailer where you purchased the home;
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A
description of the problem along with copies of any correspondence
or contacts with the retailer and the manufacturer to resolve
the problem.
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IV. Program Management
HUD
manages the program from its Headquarters office in Washington,
DC. The mailing address is:
Office of Manufactured Housing Programs
Office of Regulatory Affairs and Manufactured Housing
Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th St. SW, Room 9164
Washington, D.C. 20410-8000
The
toll free number for manufactured home consumer complaints is 1-800-927-2891.
Consumers may leave a message and request that a staff person return
their call. The program office's fax number is 202-708-4213 and
the Internet e-mail is mhs@hud.gov.
V. Other Related HUD Fact Sheets and Publications
Fact
Sheet For Builders/Manufacturers - Manufactured Housing Program
Manufactured
Home Construction and Safety Standards, 24 CFR 3280. Available in
print free of charge from the HUD Customer Service Center at 1-800-767-7468
or fax 1-202-708-2313.
Manufactured
Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations, 24 CFR 3282. Available
in print free of charge from the HUD Customer Service Center at
1-800-767-7468 or fax 1-202-708-2313.
Permanent
Foundations Guide for Manufactured Housing, issued September 1996.
Available as software or in print from HUDuser.
Ninth
Report to Congress on the Manufactured Housing Program, issued October
1996. Available in print from HUDuser.
VI. Points of Contact for Questions and Additional Information
Contact
the State Administrative Agency where you live, UNLESS you live
in one of the following States: AK, CT, DE, HI, KS, MA, MT, NH,
OH, OK, VT, or WY. If you live in one of the 12 states listed above,
call 1-800-927-2891 (toll free) and the appropriate HUD staff person
will return your call. Be sure to give your state and phone number
if you leave a message; OR, you may contact HUD via the Internet
at: mhs@hud.gov.
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