LIS

Administrative Code

Virginia Administrative Code
10/13/2024

Part X. Mobile Homes

24VAC30-41-590. General.

Mobile homes have special legal and physical characteristics as opposed to conventional housing types. Mobile home occupants are entitled to the same relocation benefits as apply to all other displacees. However, certain policy adjustments and special benefit determination methods need to be employed because of the following unique characteristics:

1. Eligibility; personalty vs. realty. A mobile home may have legal status as either real estate or personalty depending on factors such as the permanency of its fixture to the ground, its condition, and the intention of the owner in placing the mobile home on its present location.

An initial presumption should be made that a mobile home located on proposed right of way is personalty, and that the present owner will retain ownership and move the mobile home from the right of way. However, in some cases it will be clear that the unit is part of the real estate. For instance, the mobile home that is on a concrete foundation with basement and is on a professionally landscaped site would be considered real estate. In many cases the distinction is not clear. Legal advice may be secured from the assistant attorney general. Also, the district manager should monitor mobile home personalty/realty determinations to assure that they are made on a fair and consistent basis.

A mobile home determined to be real estate will be acquired and the occupant, if the owner, will be provided relocation benefits as an owner-occupant-displacee.

A mobile home considered as personalty and not real estate may be acquired and relocation benefits provided as an owner occupant under the following circumstances:

a. The structural condition of the mobile home is such that it cannot be moved without substantial damage or unreasonable cost;

b. The mobile home itself is not and cannot economically be made a decent, safe and sanitary dwelling;

c. The mobile home cannot be relocated because there is no available comparable replacement site; or

d. The mobile home cannot be relocated because it does not meet mobile home park entrance requirements.

The determination as to whether to acquire an owner-occupied mobile home considered to be personalty should be made promptly after the first relocation contact has been made with the occupant. In making this determination, consideration must be given to whether the mobile home itself is not a decent, safe and sanitary unit because of its physical condition or its size. Under the procedures outlined in this section, it is not intended that an offer be made by VDOT to acquire a mobile home simply because of required utility deficiencies such as hot and cold running water and septic system. Considering the above, if it is determined by the district manager that VDOT has an obligation to offer to acquire the mobile home, the relocation agent is to contact several reputable mobile home dealers in the area to establish the amount that the mobile home would bring if offered for sale on the open market (salvage value or trade-in value, whichever is higher, shall be used when computing the price differential amount). Once this value is established and approved by the district manager, the approved amount will be used for comparison against the amount established as necessary for the displacee to purchase and relocate into comparable decent, safe and sanitary replacement facility. Upon approval of the maximum replacement housing payment, an offer is to be made for the purchase of the mobile home. Simultaneously, the displacee will be advised of the approved maximum replacement housing payment and the basis for establishing that amount. In the event the displacee refuses VDOT's offer, the district files are to be so documented and no further attempt made to acquire the mobile home. This being the case, the mobile home occupant is to be advised of the Replacement Housing Payment which is the difference between the established value of the mobile home and that amount necessary to acquire a comparable decent, safe and sanitary facility as computed above. Under these conditions the cost to move the mobile home is not an eligible expense.

If VDOT's offer to acquire the mobile home is accepted, the district must have the owner execute an agreement of sale. Upon delivery of the check to the owner, the district will obtain title to the mobile home, a bill of sale, an affidavit, or other proof of ownership. Upon relocation of the occupants, the disposal of the mobile home will be handled in the same manner as other acquired buildings.

2. Owner/tenancy status; mobile home and site. A characteristic unique to the mobile home payment computation is that there is often a divided ownership of the dwelling unit and its site. A mobile home occupant may own the dwelling but rent the site. Conversely, an occupant may own the site and rent the dwelling unit. Relocation benefits will conform to this feature by treating the site and the dwelling separately for purposes of determining replacement housing benefits. This is discussed more fully in 24VAC30-41-630.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001.

24VAC30-41-600. Mobile home park displacement.

The proposed right of way may include a portion of a mobile home park. VDOT will determine whether a sufficient portion of the park is taken to cause the owner-operator of such park to discontinue business because of not having an economic remainder to conduct operations. If the remainder is not an economic unit as a mobile home park, all occupants of mobile home units will be considered displaced persons eligible for appropriate relocation benefits, whether or not the residue on which any of the mobile homes are located is acquired by VDOT. The owner-operator may qualify for benefits as a business displacee, as well a residential displacee, if the owner-operator resides in a unit on the property.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001.

24VAC30-41-610. Moving expenses.

A. A nonoccupant owner of a rented mobile home can be paid for actual, reasonable cost of moving the mobile home or other personal property, or both, under provisions of 24VAC30-41-210.

If a displaced mobile home owner files a claim for actual moving expenses for moving the mobile home to a replacement site, the reasonable cost of disassembling, moving and reassembling attached items such as porches, decks, skirting and awnings, anchoring of the unit and utility "hook-up" charges are reimbursable. The cost of repairs or modifications to enable the unit to be moved to a replacement site may be paid. VDOT must determine in advance that it is necessary and practical to do so. Payment will be limited to the reasonable costs of moving the mobile home and making necessary repairs or modifications.

B. Nonreturnable entrance fees are reimbursable as part of actual cost moving expenses to an owner- or tenant-occupant, unless comparable mobile home parks are available which do not require entrance fees.

C. If the mobile home is not moved, the owner- or tenant-occupant may be paid for moving personal property in accordance with the moving expense schedule referred to in 24VAC30-41-220, or actual reasonable expenses in accordance with 24VAC30-41-210.

D. If the owner is reimbursed for the cost of moving the mobile home under these procedures, the owner is not eligible to receive a replacement housing payment, or rent supplement to assist in purchasing or renting a replacement mobile home. The person may, however, be eligible for a rent or purchase supplement to enable the displacee to secure a replacement site, as discussed in 24VAC30-41-630.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001.

24VAC30-41-620. Replacement housing payments; general.

A. The ownership or tenancy of the mobile home, not the land on which it is located, determines the occupant's status as an owner or a tenant. The length of ownership and occupancy of the mobile home on the mobile home site will determine the occupant's status as a 90-day owner or tenant.

The mobile home must be occupied on the same site (or in the same mobile home park) for the requisite 90 days to make the occupant fully eligible for rent or purchase supplement benefits.

B. After the above eligibility determinations are made, the replacement housing payment is computed in two parts:

1. If the mobile home is being acquired, the replacement housing, or rent supplement payment is computed for the mobile home unit in accordance with the same procedures for any other dwelling unit.

2. The replacement housing or rent supplement payment is computed separately for the mobile home site in accordance with normal procedures. The payment amount is limited to the maximums according to the displacee's ownership or tenancy of the land.

The sum of the two parts computed above cannot exceed the maximum limitation of the $7,200 for 90-day tenant-occupants or $31,000 for 90-day owner-occupants, unless last resort housing provisions in accordance with Part XI (24VAC30-41-650 et seq.) of this chapter are applicable. Replacement housing and rent supplement offers and payments will be computed in accordance with Parts VIII (24VAC30-41-390 et seq.) and IX (24VAC30-41-520 et seq.) of this chapter. The offer will set the maximum limit of the supplemental payment.

When determining the purchase supplement payment for an owner-occupant-displacee from a mobile home, the cost of a comparable is the reasonable cost of a comparable mobile home, including the site. When a comparable mobile home is not available, the supplement may be determined using a conventional dwelling.

If a mobile home requires repairs or modifications to permit its relocation to another site and the district office determines that it would be practical to make the repairs or modifications, the cost of a comparable dwelling is the value of the displacee's mobile home plus the cost to make the necessary repairs or modifications.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.; 49 CFR Part 24.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 26, eff. October 1, 2014.

24VAC30-41-630. Replacement housing payments; 90-day owner-occupant.

A. General. A displaced owner of a mobile home who has occupied the home and site for at least 90 days is eligible for the following as a replacement housing benefit:

1. The additional cost necessary to purchase replacement housing as specified in subsections B, C, D, and E of this section, and in accordance with the provisions of Part VIII (24VAC30-41-390 et seq.) of this chapter;

2. Compensation for the loss of favorable financing on the existing mortgage in the financing of such replacement housing, under the provisions of 24VAC30-41-500; and

3. An amount to reimburse the owner for incidental expenses incident to the purchase of such replacement housing in accordance with the provisions of 24VAC30-41-510.

A displaced owner-occupant of a mobile home eligible for a replacement housing payment as shown above who elects to rent is eligible for a rental replacement housing payment, in accordance with 24VAC30-41-510.

B. Acquisition of mobile home and site from owner-occupant.

1. The purchase supplement payment will be an amount, if any, which when added to the amount for which VDOT acquired the mobile home and site equals the lesser of:

a. The amount the owner is required to pay for a decent, safe and sanitary replacement mobile home and site; or

b. The amount determined by the district office as necessary to purchase a comparable mobile home and site in accordance with the provisions of 24VAC30-41-430.

2. Rental replacement housing payment. If the owner elects to rent, the rent supplement will be determined by subtracting 42 times the economic rent of the mobile home and site from the lesser of:

a. The amount determined by the district office necessary to rent a comparable mobile home and site for a period of 42 months; or

b. Forty-two times the monthly rent paid for the replacement mobile home and site.

C. Acquisition of site only—owner-occupant retains mobile home.

1. Upon acquisition of the site but not the home situated upon the site and the mobile home is required to be moved, the replacement housing payment will be the amount, if any, which when added to the amount for which VDOT acquired the mobile home site equals the lesser of:

a. The amount the owner is required to pay for a comparable site; or

b. The amount determined by the district office as necessary to purchase a comparable mobile home site.

2. If the owner elects to rent, the rent supplement shall be determined by subtracting 42 times the economic rent of the mobile home site from the lesser of:

a. The amount determined as necessary to rent a comparable mobile home site for 42 months; or

b. Forty-two times the monthly rent paid at the replacement mobile home site.

D. Acquisition of mobile home only—owner-occupant rents site.

1. The replacement housing payment is to be the amount, if any, which when added to the amount for which VDOT acquired the mobile home equals the lesser of:

a. The actual amount the owner is required to pay for a replacement dwelling; or

b. The amount determined as necessary to purchase a comparable mobile home, plus the difference in the amount determined by the district office as necessary to rent a comparable mobile home site for a period of 42 months and 42 times the rent being paid on the site acquired.

The entire computed amount may be applied toward the purchase of a comparable mobile home site, if so desired.

2. If the owner elects to rent a replacement mobile home, the rent supplement payment shall be determined by subtracting 42 times the economic rent of the mobile home and the actual rent of the site from the lesser of:

a. The amount determined by the district office as necessary to rent a comparable mobile home and site for 42 months; or

b. Forty-two times the monthly rent paid for the replacement dwelling.

E. Acquisition of rental site only—mobile home not acquired. When the site is acquired but not the mobile home, which must be moved, the owner-occupant of the mobile home is eligible for up to $7,200 as a rent supplement for a comparable replacement site. This rent supplement payment shall be the difference determined by subtracting 42 times the rent on the site being acquired from the lesser of:

1. The amount determined as necessary to rent a comparable home site for 42 months; or

2. Forty-two times the monthly rent paid for the replacement site.

The entire computed amount may be applied toward the down payment and incidental expenses on a comparable home site.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.; 49 CFR Part 24.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 26, eff. October 1, 2014.

24VAC30-41-640. Replacement housing payment to tenants of 90 days or more.

A displaced tenant of a mobile home or site, or both, under this category can receive a replacement housing payment not to exceed $7,200 (except under last resort housing) to rent a comparable decent, safe and sanitary mobile home or site, or both, or make a down payment on either or both computed as follows:

1. The rental replacement housing payment is to be determined in accordance with the provisions of 24VAC30-41-530.

2. If a purchase decision is made, the entire computed rental payment may be applied towards the purchase, including related incidental expenses for a replacement mobile home, site, or both.

Statutory Authority

§ 25.1-402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 4601 et seq.; 49 CFR Part 24.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 3, eff. November 21, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 26, eff. October 1, 2014.

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