Proper terminology is important because it is not only accurate but also helps reverse the stigma and mistreatment of people who live in factory-built homes with land leases.
“Trailer Trash” is not just a pejorative term; it describes many government-sanctioned policies and practices regarding people living in land-lease communities.
These attitudes and policies must change to protect the people who own their homes in these communities and preserve this vital source of affordable housing and community living.
“Manufactured home” is the legal term for factory-built homes built after June 1976. The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 directed the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish national manufactured housing construction and safety standards and regulations for the country, commonly referred to as the “HUD Code.” Fifty years ago, the name and industry changed.
These homes and communities evolved from trailer homes pulled by cars. Much like current RV parks, travelers would “park” periodically in a “Trailer Park” or “Mobile Home Park.”
Now, to legally and safely move a manufactured home, you’ll need a permit, a specialized towing unit, and to ensure the home is roadworthy and compliant with state codes. Additionally, you’ll need professionals to disconnect utilities and obtain any necessary documentation for the new location. Current-day manufactured homes’ are often transported in sections. The are not intended to be moved after the initial move from the factory. In fact, insurance and refinancing is often not available if moved a second time.
Not only has common terminology not changed sufficiently, but the laws governing these communities still treat homeowners as if they can hitch their home to their car and leave if the landowner wants to sell or change the use of the land. Time after time, these communities are closed, displacing hundreds or thousands of people and destroying their communities.
“Manufactured Home Community” (MHC) accurately describes the fact that the land lease community includes the financial and business interests of the landowner and the homes and investments of the homeowners (most residents in MHCs own their homes and lease the land). It is not uncommon for the collective financial investment of homeowners in a community to exceed that of the land investment. Laws must be established to protect homes, communities, and all financial interests, not just the landowners’.
Even though “manufactured homes” legally refer to homes manufactured since June 1976, and homes before that time were “mobile homes,” none of these homes are technically mobile. LEMHOA refers to all homes in MHCs as manufactured homes.
