Posted on 04/03/2016 10:33:46 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
The tiny house movement has taken America by storm, in part because our economy is in the toilet. People are striving to reduce their expenses by embracing minimalism. They’re breaking free from the corporate grind because, as I’ve always advised, they are learning to live with less and radically reducing their expenses.
But, these days in America, you are sharply admonished when you try to live your life outside of the strictures of the 9-5 world. Is it any surprise that the government is now taking steps to limit our ability to drastically reduce our expenses? They always seem to make illegal anything we try to do to be more independent and moving into a tiny house appears to be the next on their list.
HUD has proposed the following law:
This proposed rule would modify the current exemption for recreational vehicles in the Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations. Under the current exemption, questions have arisen regarding whether park model recreational vehicles are regulated by HUD’s manufactured home program. These park models are being produced with patio roofs, screened in porches, and other extensions that exceed the 400 square foot maximum exemption in the current regulations. Additionally, some of these models are being marketed as suitable for year round living. HUD’s proposed rule would permit recreational vehicle manufactures to certify that a unit is exempted from HUD’s regulations. Specifically, HUD’s proposed rule would define a recreational vehicle as a factory build vehicular structure, not certified as a manufactured home, designed only for recreational use and not as a primary residence or for permanent occupancy, and built and certified in accordance with either the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192-2015, Standard for Recreational Vehicles, or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A119.5-15, Recreational Park Trailer Standard. In addition, to provide consumers notice regarding the manufacturing standards used to construct the unit, HUD’s rule would require that units claiming the exemption display a notice that identifies the standards used to construct the unit and states that the unit is designed only for recreational use, and not as a primary residence or permanent dwelling.
That’s right – if this law is passed, these structures will be classified as “not suitable for a primary residence or permanent dwelling” in April of this year.
While currently they’re only talking about a label, how long will it be before the long arm of the law reaches out to punish those living full time in homes that are deemed “not suitable for a primary residence or permanent dwelling”? My bet is, not long at all. This may be the first step toward making it illegal to live in a tiny home or an RV.
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That’s the beauty. You can’t see it. LOL
I’m sure you could come up with something if that was your desire. A place out of the way under stairs or something, preferably not noticeable.
A swing out wall in front of a real wall could give you a foot or so of room in between, and be a great place once you swing the false wall wide open.
The United States of Big-Gov Leftist Tyranny.
(Formerly known as the Land Of the Free)
Would it have to be made all out of wood, rather than just veneered?
“Just when the federal government seems constipated, out comes more.”
Actually, this rule clarifies RV exemptions from HUD making life easier for the RV industry ...
Yes its not that they don’t want you living in a small space. They don’t want you living on your own property.
Next thing you know they’ll ban the Ice Fishing Shed/Trailer/House.
It's always about money where Government at any level is concerned.
Wife's idea of retirement (which for me is 452 days away, not that I'm counting...) has always been to sell the house, buy an RV and just travel the country, parking somewhere we like for a few weeks and then move on to someplace else.
I used to argue that fuel for an RV was cost prohibitive, especially when diesel was $4.50/gal here in the socialist hell-hole of Illinois.
She argued that $8,500/year (our annual property taxes here in IL on a modest home) bought an awful lot of diesel fuel, even at $4.50/gal, and she was right. That's almost 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel/year.
Diesel's now around $2/gal here.
I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a significant amount of time behind the wheel of an RV in the not too distant future.... ;-)
My town is trying to put in an entire village of Tiny houses for the homeless. This should be interesting.
“This goes along with the Agenda 21 plan. They don’t want any of these little houses out on private property. “
Wrong. This rule is supported by the RV industry which makes it clear that RV’s are exempt from HUD regulations.
Same objective.
I watch people shop for these things on HGTV. I can’t for the life of me understand why they’re fixated on them. To me, a travel trailer is cheaper and more roomier. At least some have full laundry fixtures. Some of these nitwits even have kids and live in the north where it snows. I imagine by winter they will have killed each other before it’s over.
Enlighten us.
What is the true "picture of the situation?"
Please disregard my “Same objective”. I see your point.
Yes, but the new trend to smaller dwellings in places where the COL has skyrocketed, shouldn’t be capped off.
I think a small place can actually be an enhancement to a community if it is done in an upscale manner.
This is really bad juju.
Government better get downsized and restrained, or we lose this country.
A lot of people who live in Hawaii are poor. So, it’s an odd combination of rich tourists and poor residents.
There is a word ... in Hawaiian it means Family. It’s ‘ohana’ It’s also used to describe a small house on the grounds of a larger house.
Ohanas are popular in Hawaii. I will be living in one soon if Hud doesn’t get me.
“What is the true “picture of the situation?” “
Yes. And besides that, demand that all communities and all new construction includes low-income options. They want to keep putting folks in smaller boxes, and they want to determine what and where those boxes are.
back to bungalow living.
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