News

New manufactured housing law in effect Sept. 1

Changes in law direct result of passage of TMHA-supported HB 2238

posted 8/31/2009 4:32:11 PM

• Clarifies the time requirement for a salesperson to attend initial licensing class
• Updates the continuing education requirement to allow the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Manufactured Housing Division Board to approve online classes
• Changes the designation of new installer licensee from “probationary” to “provisional”
• Allows the department and industry to participate in online and electronic transactions
• Clarifies the time frame of licensee renewal
• Clarifies the parties TDHCA must provide notice to in the event a home was sold
• by a retailer who did not subsequently pay his/her inventory financer
• Allows a consumer to change designation of home to real property via department’s Web site
• Allows either seller or county tax offices to provide the department with proper notification all taxes have been paid on a used home title transfer
• Allows TDHCA to title a home that has not been titled within the department’s records
• Clarifies how a loan on a home may be serviced and how a lien may be sold or assigned on the secondary credit market
• Clarifies that the department must disclose the tax lien amount only and not purchase money lien amount
• Clarifies the license needed to sell new homes
• Allows for a consumer installation waiver notice for used home installations
• Provides for the department to waive certain fees during emergency disaster situations
• Allows the department to reassign warranty work to another appropriate licensee if the licensee responsible for the warranty obligation is unable to perform
• Provides for the process of consumer remedy that can be paid from the Manufactured Homeowners’ Recovery Trust Fund