Mobile Home Setup

[Tina]

I am trying to find out who is responsible for the setup of a mobile home in a park. Is it safe to say that if one is setup with one side on dirt and one side on concrete that it could damage the structural integrity of the home? Thanks in advance.

[rmurray]

The person responsible is the person you paid to do the job..Most states now require licensed set up crews....One side on concrete one not should not cause any problems...The set up should have been inspected by the local building inspector to be sure it meets all codes...

[Eugene]

I have to disagree.
If your home is in a freezing climate or the site is not graded to shed water away from the home site, the half of the home on dirt would be either settling in the mud or lifting due to frost.
If you paid someone to complete you home, and they did this, you got ripped.

[Tina]

I had to have some repair work done on my house and that's when I found out how it was setup. When I confronted the dealer who is also the setup crew they said that they told the park about it and the park refused to fix it. I then asked why he set it up anyway. Didn't really have a comment to that. As for your comments about freezing and such. I live in Missouri so I do deal with weather adjustments. There are also a couple of places on my lot that have standing water so it wouldn't surprise me if it was settling under the house also. I have notice a lot of shifting in my home. I've tried to contact attorneys to find out my rights and none of them seem to want to return my calls. The dealer of course as since closed his doors. The manager of the park says it wouldn't affect it and that I should contact the manufacturer. What are they going to do for me except tell me that I need to contact the dealer in which I have and he just said the park wouldn't correct the concrete runners. My insurance company said it shouldn't have been set up that way. I'm frustrated and irritated that no one wants to except responsibility. Now I have a window that started leaking and a couple of cracks in the ceiling. If anybody knows an attorney that deals with mobile homes that would be very helpful! And yes I would agree, I've gotten screwed since I signed the papers on this whole deal so this doesn't surprise me either.

[Brooks Burd]

Chack the statute of limitations in your state. You could still sue the dealer. The park is responsible for providing you with a good lot. If their lot only has concrete under half of it and that is causing your home to move, you may have action against them. I would imagine any lawyer should take your case, but it's up to you to find one. As a set-up contractor myself, I agree it could be set on dirt with the right conditions. Also extra steps should be taken like putting solid blocks on the bottom of the piers that are on the dirt. Also, "presinking" the house into the dirt. This sounds weird, but when you set the house down, it will sink an little. Afterwards you can lift the house back up, relevel the sunken piers and reset it. It is best, however to set the home on concrete.

[Deb]

Contact the Missouri Public Service Commission - they are the state agency that governs this type of thing and handles complaints.