Moving a manufactured home in Kansas

Who licenses installers in Kansas

The Kansas Manufactured Housing Act (K.S.A. 58-4216 and following) directs KHRC to adopt uniform installation standards by regulation.

HUD reviews KHRC's installation program for compliance with federal standards under 42 U.S.C. 5404(c).

Sources: Installer licensing agency; Statutory basis

Installer license

Anyone installing manufactured homes in Kansas must hold a KHRC installer license or work under a licensed installer's supervision.

An installer license lasts three years and costs $300 to issue or renew.

Applicants must be 18 or older, complete an approved training course, pass the exam and show at least two years of installer experience in the prior three years.

KHRC's program manual requires installers to carry liability insurance of at least $200,000, with KHRC listed as certificate holder.

An owner installing a home on their own property for their own occupancy needs no license, but gives up the Act's remedies.

Sources: Who must be licensed; Liability insurance

Permits to move the home

A home wider than the legal limit may travel Kansas highways with a special permit if it is no more than 16 and a half feet wide.

The driver must carry proof of liability insurance on the home and tow vehicle of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $25,000 property damage.

Permitted oversize loads must display an OVERSIZE LOAD sign and red flags on all four corners.

Source: Permit for wide homes

Title and taxes before the move

To title a home built in 1979 or earlier through the ownership affidavit, the Kansas Department of Revenue requires proof that property taxes were paid for the preceding 5 years.

Eliminating the title on a home fixed to land requires tax receipts as proof of payment, the deed, a lien release and a $10 fee.

Sources: Untitled older homes; Title elimination

Installation standards

Kansas installation standards must be reasonable and consistent with the federal standards; only KHRC may amend them.

The state installation standards are in K.A.R. 127-2-2 and are available from KHRC.

Cities and counties cannot add licensing for licensed installers, but they may require a building permit and charge a reasonable inspection fee.

Sources: Consistent with federal standards; Where the standards are; Local building permits

Checking a license

KHRC publishes a PDF list of licensed installers with license number, expiration date, company, city and phone.

Source: Official installer list

Complaints and recovery

An owner who thinks the installation falls short can apply to KHRC for an inspection within one year of installation with a $100 fee; KHRC then issues an order and assigns inspection costs.

Homeowners, dealers and others can file a signed written complaint with KHRC's program when an installer breaks the rules or misses the standards.

Unlicensed installers face civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation and possible prosecution by the Kansas Attorney General.

Sources: Dispute resolution; Written complaints