After the flood, when one elderly couple returned to their home to see what they could salvage, they said it smelled of raw sewage. They were told that their 2012 manufactured home could not be repaired and would be dismantled. However, months later, the same home turned up in an MHC lin another city.
Since June of this year, KUSA-TV in Denver – complete with improper use of industry terminology – has been tracking more than 100 manufactured homes damaged in the floods and discovered that they were moved to at least six new communities. That sort of reporting resulted in several Front Range cities changing their rules for manufactured housing. Possible changes to state law may follow as well.
KUSA-TV reported possible dangers within refurbished flooded homes. “In some of these homes, the water damage can be potentially covered up, maybe not intentionally,” said Rick Hanger, Manager of Housing Technology and Standards for the Colorado Division of Housing.
One homeowner, Scot Gero, began to worry about the origin of his home when he noticed that the floors were warped. When the inspector went through his home, he discovered wet debris stuck under the siding and a water-damaged electrical outlet outside, but he didn’t find mold inside.
During the past six months, KUSA-TV has searched for tax records for 113 flooded manufactured homes and found that 40 had been moved to several metro Denver neighborhoods. Although the homes changed addresses and changed owners multiple times, building officials had no idea about their past histories.
Upon searching his files, Broomfield Chief Building Official Tim Pate found that 10 damaged homes had been moved into his city from flood-ravaged parts of Boulder County. Although the homes did obtain installation permits, none had received a building permit for repairs in Broomfield.
As a result, Pate sent letters to current owners and sellers, asking for documentation of each home’s rehabilitation and copies of any permits issued for necessary repairs. “Whether it’s insulation, drywall, new sheathing, a new water heater, or a new furnace,” Pate said, “owners need to provide that list.”
Other Colorado cities are also taking a closer look. Federal Heights is kicking out 26 flood homes found by building officials. Thornton allowed four flood homes, then decided to reject any more. Westminster officials say they are not allowing flood mobile or manufactured homes to move into their city.
Besides the problems for consumers, the allegedly improper repairs of HUD Code homes might unwittingly undermine the HUD Code.
Weld County, where many of the flooded homes originated now adds a warning on paperwork issued for mobile homes on the move. The words “MOBILE HOME WAS RED TAGGED BY FEMA” appears at the top of the tax authentication certificates. ##
(Photo Credit: KUSA-TV)
