Congress Moves to Ditch the Chassis Rule
Lawmakers in Washington are moving closer to dropping a decades-old rule that treats manufactured homes as if they are meant to be moved. A broad federal housing bill making its way through Congress would eliminate a 1974 requirement that every manufactured home be built on a permanent steel chassis. The rule was originally intended to make homes easier to transport, but critics say it now mostly drives up costs and limits design options.
Housing advocates and industry groups argue that removing the chassis could cut prices by as much as 9 percent, or roughly 10,000 dollars per home. They also say it would open the door to new designs, including the ability to stack units to create two-story duplexes. Developers believe the change could make it easier to place factory-built homes on narrow city lots, where affordable housing is often scarce.
Supporters say the shift could also help change the perception of manufactured homes by making them look more like traditional houses. That, in turn, could help buyers qualify for standard mortgages instead of higher-cost loans typically used for movable property.
However, not everyone supports the proposal. Modular home builders warn that removing the chassis requirement could blur the distinction between their more expensive, locally regulated homes and manufactured housing.
Both the House and Senate have passed their own versions of the bill and must now reconcile the differences. Backers say strong bipartisan interest in expanding affordable housing gives the measure a solid chance of becoming law.
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