MichiganLegalAid.org

Instructions for filing a “Manufactured Housing Statement of Complaint”

The Mobile Home Commission Act (1987 PA 96) gives the agency authority to investigate complaints against manufactured home communities, installer/servicers, manufacturers, and retailers. However, certain issues may not be within the authority of this agency to address. For assistance in determining the appropriate agency to contact, please refer to the attached list.

Before filing a complaint with this agency, you must first notify, in writing, the manufactured home community, installer/servicer, manufacturer, or retailer about your complaint. In your letter, you must describe your complaint in detail. The entity the complaint is against has 10 business days from the day it receives your letter to respond to your complaint.

The letter may be sent by certified mail or hand delivered, but you must have either a certified mail receipt, or hand written receipt which shows when the letter was delivered. The delivery date is the date from which the 10 business days are counted.

If you do not receive a satisfactory response within 10 business days, then you may file a complaint with this agency. To file a complaint, you must submit the following:

A “Manufactured Housing Statement of Complaint” form.
A copy of the complaint letter you mailed or hand delivered to the business. This agency will pursue only the issues contained in the letter of complaint.
A copy (not original) of the receipt which shows that the business received your complaint or that the business refused to accept delivery of a mailed letter.
A copy (not original) of any written response received from the business.
A copy (not original) of any documents which support your complaint. Please include a copy of your purchase agreement if your complaint is against a retailer or manufacturer, or a copy of your work order if your complaint is against an installer/servicer.

The Mobile Home Commission Act and Rules do not provide this agency with authority to investigate complaints regarding rent or evictions.

The state law regarding evictions is the Revised Judicature Act, 1961 PA 236. Under that law, you cannot be evicted from a manufactured home community for filing a complaint.

If you have any questions about filing a complaint, please contact the Office of Local Government and Consumer Services at (517) 241-9347.

FOR PROBLEMS RELATING TO:

a.	Entrance/Exit fees
b.	Charging separately for utilities without metering
c.	Renting without offering a written lease
d.	Requiring purchase of a manufactured home or other goods and services from another
	person as a condition of renting space in a manufactured home community
e.	Misapplication of deposit monies
f.	Misrepresentation or fraud
g.	General operation, maintenance and safety
h.	Warranty work
i.	Manufactured home installation
j.	Purchase agreement discrepancies
k.	Deposit/down payment problems
l.	Licensing of installer/servicers, retailers, or manufactured home communities
m.	Sales of manufactured homes in manufactured home communities
Please contact:	Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Bureau of Construction Codes & Fire Safety Office of Local Government and Consumer Services P. O. Box 30222Lansing, MI 48909

FOR PROBLEMS RELATING TO:

a. Water supply system
b. Sewage collection and disposal system
c. Drainage
d. Garbage and rubbish storage and disposal
e. Insect and rodent control
f. General operations, maintenance and safety

Please contact:

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Drinking Water and Radiological Protection Division
P. O. Box 30630 Lansing, MI 48909

FOR PROBLEMS RELATING TO:

a. Application for Certificate of Manufactured Home Ownership*

b. Issuance of Certificate of Manufactured Home Ownership

c. Transfer of Certificate of Manufactured Home Ownership

Please Contact your nearest local branch office of the Michigan Department of State.

Michigan Department of State/Local Branch

*Applications for Certificate of Manufactured Home Ownership (title) may be obtained from the retailer or nearest local branch office of the Michigan Department of State. The application and appropriate fee is to be delivered to the local branch office of the Michigan Department of State. All questions regarding a Certificate of Manufactured Home Ownership (title) should be directed to the local branch office.

To learn more about housing rights in Michigan and where to get help:

Consult the Michigantenants.org website for local housing resources and tenant counseling services.

Consult the Michiganlegalaid.org website for legal education articles and local service information.

If you received court papers or otherwise need free or low cost legal advice:

Visit Michiganlegalaid.org and search for local assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer, organization or related service to help you with your problem.”
Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738, or
Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by calling (800) 347-5297.

This article is provided courtesy of MI Department of Labor and Economic Growth