Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (14.171)

Program

14.171 Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office: Office Of Housing-federal Housing Commissioner

Authorization

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act, Title 42, Part 5401, 42 U.S.C 5401.

Program Number

14.171

Last Known Status

Active

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.

Eligibility Requirements

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

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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

Not Applicable.

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.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Monetary funds are not awarded. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Complaints can be filed with the office of manufactured housing programs or direct with a state administrative agency that assist with the administration and enforcement of the manufactured housing program in their state.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

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.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

86-8119-0-7-376.

Obligations

(Investigation of Complaints) FY 08 $6,564,000; FY 09 est $15,400,000; FY 10 est $16,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

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.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

William W. Matchneer U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, S.W., Room 9164, Washington, District of Columbia 20410 Email: William.W.Matchneer@hud.gov Phone: 202-708-6401

Web Site Address

No Data Available

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.