The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) reports that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will increase label fees on new manufactured homes (MH) to $100 per label effective Sept. 12, 2014 to help cover the costs of administering the program. Manufacturers that have already purchased the $39 labels will be assessed the additional $61 if the labels will be used on or after Sept. 12. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report criticized HUD for not properly implementing the requirements of the Manufactured Home Improvement Act of 2000, and suggested the label fees be raised to cover program costs. MHI suggested the increase be based on production, as MHProNews has been informed, but while HUD maintains there is not a direct correlation between production and operating expenses, it will consider reducing the label fee if production unexpectedly rises. To view a copy of the final rule, click here. ##

(Photo credit: Manufactured Housing Institute–MH under production)