Manufactured home glossary

HUD tightened wind design rules for homes built from July 1994, adding the three wind zones. Homes built before that are treated as higher wind risk by many carriers.

Also called: Post-1994, Pre-1994

See also: Wind zone, Year built

Verisk’s replacement-cost estimating tool. Inputs such as square footage, year, manufacturer and construction produce an estimated rebuild cost that carriers use to set the dwelling limit.

Also called: iv360, Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, MSB

See also: Insured value

A settlement basis that pays replacement cost minus depreciation, so an older home pays out much less than the cost of a new one.

Also called: ACV, Actual cash value

See also: Replacement cost (RC), Depreciation

A party other than the named insured who is covered by the policy or protected under it, such as a co-owner or a lender with an interest in the home.

See also: Named insured, Mortgagee

Aluminum household wiring, used in some homes from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s. It loosens at connections and is a fire risk, so some carriers require rewiring or approved repairs.

Also called: Aluminum wiring

The wheel-bearing shaft on the chassis used to move the home. Axles and wheels are commonly removed at installation.

A temporary contract that proves coverage is in force until the full policy is issued, commonly for up to 90 days.

The steel frame under a manufactured home that carries the structure and its axles for transport. Two long I-beams run the length of the home.

Also called: Frame, I-beam

See also: Axle, Tongue, On-frame / off-frame

A report of claims made on a home or by an applicant over roughly the last seven years. Carriers use it to price and to check what was disclosed.

Also called: Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange

See also: Loss history

A clause requiring coverage of at least a set share (often 80%) of the home’s value. Falling short means the insured bears part of every loss, even a partial one.

See also: Underinsurance

A wind/hail exclusion for damage that changes appearance (dents, pitting) but does not stop the roof or siding from working.

See also: Wind/hail deductible

HUD-approved agencies. The DAPIA approves a manufacturer’s home designs and installation instructions; the IPIA inspects production in the factory.

Also called: DAPIA, IPIA

See also: HUD Code, HUD label

A paper compliance certificate inside the home, usually in a kitchen cabinet, closet or electrical panel area. It lists the manufacturer, model, serial number, build date and the wind, roof-load and thermal ratings.

Also called: Compliance certificate

See also: HUD label, Wind zone, Roof load zone, Thermal zone

The summary page of a policy showing the named insured, address, limits, deductibles, forms and premium.

Also called: Dec page

The amount the insured pays out of pocket on a claim before insurance pays. It can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the dwelling limit.

The loss of value due to age, wear and obsolescence, which is subtracted from an ACV settlement.

The road distance from the home to the nearest responding fire station, used together with protection class.

See also: Protection Class (PPC)

A manufactured home built in two sections that are joined at the site along a marriage line, typically 20 to 36 feet wide overall. It is the most common size.

Also called: Double wide, Doublewide

See also: Marriage line

Pays to repair or replace the home itself, along with attached structures such as porches and decks.

Also called: Coverage A

See also: Other structures (Coverage B)

The date the coverage starts. Carriers limit how far ahead of today it may be set.

A written change that adds, removes or modifies coverage on a policy, such as water backup or extended replacement cost.

Also called: Rider

An endorsement that pays a set percentage above the dwelling limit (often 10–50%) when rebuilding costs exceed it after a large loss.

See also: Replacement cost (RC), Endorsement

An older brand of electrical panel (Stab-Lok breakers) with a known record of failing to trip. Many carriers decline homes that still have one or require replacement.

Also called: FPE, Stab-Lok

See also: Update (plumbing, electrical, heating, roof)

A wildfire risk score for a location, based on vegetation, slope and access. Used to price or decline homes in wildfire-prone areas.

Also called: Wildfire score

See also: Protection Class (PPC)

An engineer’s letter confirming the foundation and anchoring meet manufacturer or HUD design for the site’s wind and seismic loads. Lenders and carriers may ask for it.

Also called: Engineer’s certification

See also: Permanent foundation, Wind zone

An endorsement adding physical damage and liability coverage for a golf cart kept at the property. Carriers commonly ask how many carts there are and whether they are driven on public streets.

Also called: Golf cart extension

A homeowners policy form designed for manufactured homes. Sometimes called MH-3 or a mobile home form, it is the manufactured-housing counterpart to the HO-3.

Also called: MH-3, MH3, HO7

See also: Named perils, Open perils

The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, in force since June 15, 1976. It sets requirements for design, strength, fire safety, plumbing, heating, electrical and energy performance.

Also called: Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards

See also: HUD label, Data plate

A metal tag (the red label) permanently riveted on the exterior of each transportable section, certifying construction to the HUD Code. Each section carries its own unique number.

Also called: HUD tag, Red tag, Certification label

See also: Data plate

The licensed contractor who sets the home, blocks it, anchors it and connects utilities. Many states license installers and inspect the setup.

Also called: Mobile home installer

See also: Tie-downs, Piers

Material in the floor, walls and roof that slows heat transfer. Fiberglass is the usual choice, and the HUD thermal zone sets the minimum.

See also: Thermal zone

A financial stake in the home: the owner would lose money if it were damaged. Without it a policy cannot be issued or paid on.

A number built from credit-based information that carriers use to predict claim likelihood. It is not the same as a lending credit score, and some states restrict its use.

Also called: Credit-based insurance score

The dwelling limit requested or calculated for Coverage A. A limit set too low can mean underinsurance at claim time, and most carriers also cap how far the limit can run above or below their valuation estimate before requiring it to be adjusted.

Also called: Coverage A limit, Dwelling limit

See also: 360Value, Underinsurance

A community where residents own their homes but rent the lot. This includes 55+ and all-age communities.

Also called: Mobile home park, MH community

See also: Lot rent

The record of prior claims on the home or the applicant.

Also called: Claims history, CLUE report

Pays extra living costs, such as a hotel and meals, while the home is uninhabitable after a covered loss.

Also called: Coverage D, Additional living expense, ALE

The monthly fee for the land space a home occupies in a community, often covering shared services.

Also called: Pad rent, Space rent

A home built entirely in a factory on a permanent steel chassis to the federal HUD Code, then hauled to its site. Only homes built on or after June 15, 1976 can legally be called manufactured.

See also: HUD Code, Mobile home, Modular home

Financing for a manufactured home. If the home is titled as personal property, it is usually a chattel loan with a higher rate and shorter term. If it is affixed to owned land, it can be a conventional mortgage.

Also called: Mobile home loan, Chattel loan

See also: Personal property (chattel), Mortgagee

The seam where two sections of a multi-section home are bolted together. It is sealed and finished inside and out.

Pays small medical bills for guests hurt on the property regardless of fault.

Also called: Coverage F, Med pay

The pre-1976 name for a factory-built home. It is still used casually for any manufactured home, but strictly it means a unit built before the HUD Code took effect.

See also: Manufactured home, HUD Code, Actual Cash Value (ACV)

HUD’s federal rules (24 CFR Part 3285) for setting up a manufactured home: foundation, anchoring, blocking and connections. They apply where a state has no program of its own.

Also called: MHIS, 24 CFR 3285

See also: Tie-downs, Installer, Permanent foundation

A home built in factory sections but held to the same local or state building code as a site-built house. It is set on a permanent foundation and is treated as real estate.

See also: Site-built home, Manufactured home

A sheet of plastic (a vapor retarder) laid over the ground under the home to keep soil moisture from rising into the floor system.

Coverage for mold cleanup and repair. It is usually capped at a small flat sublimit, often just a few thousand dollars, far below the dwelling limit.

See also: Dwelling coverage (Coverage A)

The lender with a financial interest in the home. It is listed on the policy so it is paid alongside the owner on a covered loss.

Also called: Lienholder, Loss payee

A company that transports a home between sites, often with pilot vehicles because of its width. Moving an older home can void or change its coverage.

Also called: Mobile home mover, Transport company

The person or people the policy is issued to, as listed on the declarations page. Anyone else with an interest, such as a lender, is an additional insured or loss payee.

Also called: Primary insured, Applicant

See also: Additional insured, Mortgagee

A policy that covers only the causes of loss it lists, such as fire, wind, hail and theft. Anything not listed is excluded.

See also: Open perils

How the home is used: owner-occupied primary residence, seasonal or secondary, or rented out. It changes eligibility, forms and rates.

Also called: Owner-occupied, Seasonal, Tenant-occupied

See also: Personal liability (Coverage E)

On-frame homes stay on their steel chassis after installation. Off-frame homes are lifted off the chassis and placed onto a permanent foundation.

See also: Chassis, Permanent foundation

Sometimes called all-risk. Every cause of loss is covered unless the policy specifically excludes it.

Also called: All-risk, Special form

Coverage for the added cost of rebuilding to current building codes after a loss.

Covers detached structures on the property, such as sheds, carports, fences and detached garages. It is usually a percentage of the dwelling limit.

Also called: Coverage B

A beam extending sideways from the chassis to support the floor edge and help spread the home’s weight.

See also: Chassis

A home whose wall, floor and roof panels are built in a factory and shipped flat to be assembled on site. Local building codes apply.

Also called: Panelized homes

See also: Pre-fab home, SIPs

A small (roughly 400 sq ft or less) park-style unit built to an RV industry standard rather than the HUD Code. It is intended for seasonal or recreational stays.

See also: HUD Code, Data plate

A foundation engineered to carry the home and anchor it to the ground, such as a poured slab, a crawlspace or a full basement, built to the manufacturer’s or a local engineer’s specification.

See also: Slab, Piers, On-frame / off-frame

Covers legal costs and damages if the insured is held responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property. Some carriers call this Premises Liability when the home is not owner-occupied.

Also called: Coverage E, Premises liability

A home treated as movable property, usually when it sits on rented land or has not been affixed to a foundation. Chattel loans are typically shorter and higher-rate than mortgages.

Also called: Chattel

Covers belongings inside the home, such as furniture, appliances and clothing.

Also called: Coverage C, Contents

Support columns (block, concrete or steel) placed under the chassis to carry the home’s weight above the ground.

Also called: Pier and beam

See also: Permanent foundation, Tie-downs

How long the policy runs before renewal, commonly 12 months.

A plastic supply pipe installed from roughly 1978 to 1995 that is prone to bursting. Many carriers exclude water damage from it or decline the home.

Also called: Poly-B, PB pipe

Umbrella term for any home whose parts are built off-site and assembled on the lot. Manufactured, modular and panelized homes are all prefab, but only manufactured homes follow the HUD Code.

Also called: Prefabricated home, Prefab

See also: Manufactured home, Modular home, Panelized home

The price of the policy for its term, which can be paid up front or in installments.

The insurer the applicant had before, and any gap between the old policy’s end and the new one’s start. Gaps can raise the premium or block a quote.

Also called: Prior insurance

A home titled as personal property may be taxed like a vehicle rather than land. In a land-lease community, the park often pays the land tax and passes it through in lot rent.

Also called: Mobile home tax

See also: Lot rent

A 1-to-10 grade for how well a community can fight fires, based on the fire department, water supply and alarm system. Lower numbers are better and cheaper.

Also called: PPC, ISO class, Public Protection Classification

See also: Fireline

The largest common size class: four sections joined on site, usually custom-ordered with open floor plans. Not every manufacturer builds them.

Also called: Quad wide

A home permanently attached to land the owner also owns, recorded with the county like a site-built house.

Also called: Real estate

See also: Personal property (chattel), Permanent foundation

A settlement basis that pays what it costs to rebuild or replace with similar new materials, with no deduction for age or wear.

Also called: RCV, Replacement cost value

See also: Actual Cash Value (ACV)

A recorded rule limiting what an owner may do with a property, such as banning older homes or setting minimum sizes.

Also called: CC&Rs

How many years since the roof surface was installed or replaced. Older roofs raise wind/hail rates and can trigger a payment schedule or eligibility limit.

See also: Roof surfacing payment schedule, Roof type

HUD’s rating for how much snow and other weight the roof must carry: South (20 psf), Middle (30 psf) or North (40 psf).

See also: Data plate, Truss system

An endorsement that pays wind and hail roof claims as a percentage that shrinks with roof age, instead of full replacement cost.

Also called: Scheduled roof settlement, ACV roof settlement

See also: Roof type, Actual Cash Value (ACV)

The style and material of the roof. Common choices are shingle, metal, and membrane over a low-slope roof, and pitched versus flat framing.

Optional coverage that insures a named high-value item, such as jewelry, firearms, fine art, musical instruments or collectible coins, at its own listed value instead of relying on the base personal property sublimit.

Also called: Scheduled property, Personal articles floater

See also: Personal property (Coverage C)

The manufacturer’s unique identifier for the home. Multi-section homes carry one number with a letter suffix per section.

The minimum distances a structure must keep from property lines and other buildings.

Describes which wall the front door is on: the long side (sidewall) or the short end (end wall).

The exterior wall covering, such as vinyl, hardboard, metal or fiber cement. It affects appearance, durability and, in some regions, fire and hail rating.

A manufactured home delivered as one section, typically 14 to 18 feet wide and up to about 80 feet long.

Also called: Single wide, Singlewide

Structural insulated panels: a foam core bonded between two structural boards, used for walls, roofs and floors. They are strong and energy-efficient, and mainly appear in modular, panelized and site-built homes.

Also called: Structural insulated panels, SIP construction

Work to make the lot ready for a home: grading, drainage, utilities and the foundation.

Also called: Siting

A house constructed piece by piece on its lot, also called stick-built. It follows local building codes and has no chassis.

Also called: Stick-built home

Panels enclosing the gap between the home’s floor and the ground. They keep out animals, weather and debris and help protect the plumbing and insulation underneath.

See also: Undercarriage, Moisture barrier

A single poured concrete pad that a home is set on.

An endorsement that removes coverage for one named outbuilding, such as a shed, barn or carport, often used to keep an otherwise-eligible home insurable when that one structure is in poor condition.

See also: Other structures (Coverage B)

The insurer’s right to recover what it paid on a claim from whoever caused the loss.

A small add-on section, such as an extra room, entry or porch, hauled separately and attached at the site.

Also called: Tag along

HUD’s climate rating (Zones 1 to 3) for the insulation and heating/cooling the home was built with.

See also: Data plate

Ground anchors joined to the chassis by steel straps. They stop wind from sliding, tipping or lifting the home.

Also called: Anchoring, Anchors

See also: Wind zone, Piers

The ownership record for a home. Depending on state and foundation, a home is titled like a vehicle or converted to real property.

See also: Real property, Personal property (chattel)

The hitch assembly at the front of the chassis that a tow vehicle connects to. It is normally removed or hidden once the home is set.

Also called: Hitch, Tow tongue

The final finishing stage of installation: moldings, baseboards, connecting the marriage line and other detail work before move-in.

Optional coverage for damage to a manufactured home while it is being physically moved or transported, separate from the coverage that applies once it is set up at its site.

A manufactured home made of three sections joined on site, typically 30 feet wide or more, which allows floor plans that smaller homes cannot fit.

Also called: Triple wide, Multi-section

Prefabricated triangulated frames that support the roof. Their spacing and pitch contribute to the roof-load rating.

See also: Roof load zone

Everything beneath the floor: chassis, axles, plumbing, ducts and insulation, normally enclosed by a belly wrap.

Also called: Belly

Carrying a dwelling limit lower than the true cost to rebuild, which leaves the owner covering the gap after a loss.

The carrier’s review of a risk to decide whether to accept it and on what terms.

Also called: Eligibility

Records of major system replacements. Newer systems reduce fire and water loss risk and can lower premiums.

Also called: Renovations, Upgrades

A policy provision that limits or removes coverage for certain perils once the home has sat empty for a set period, commonly 30 or 60 days.

Also called: Unoccupancy clause

See also: Occupancy

Optional coverage for damage from sewers or drains backing up, or a sump pump failing. It is generally excluded from base policies.

Also called: Sewer backup

See also: Endorsement

Coverage for damage from leaks and other water sources within the home, separate from wind/hail. It is often set as its own percentage of the dwelling limit and carries its own deductible, distinct from the deductible on the rest of the policy.

See also: Water backup, Deductible

HUD’s rating of the wind load a home was designed for. Zone I is designed for 70 mph, Zone II for 100 mph and Zone III for 110 mph, the strongest coastal rating.

See also: Data plate, Tie-downs

A separate, usually percentage-based deductible (commonly 1%, 2% or 5% of Coverage A) applied only to wind and hail losses.

Also called: Percentage deductible

The year the home was manufactured, per the data plate. It is one of the strongest rating factors and sets eligibility cutoffs.

See also: Data plate, HUD Code