Who issues a mobile home title in Kentucky?

A Kentucky certificate of title is issued through the county clerk under the Transportation Cabinet's titling system (KRS Chapter 186A). A manufactured home is generally personal property carried on that title until it is converted to real estate. This is general information, not advice about a specific title — consider consulting a licensed attorney in Kentucky.

Mobile home titles in Kentucky

Q: How does a Kentucky manufactured home become real estate?

By filing an affidavit of conversion and surrendering the title. KRS 186A.297(1) provides that when a home 'is or is to be permanently affixed to real estate, the owner may execute and file an affidavit of conversion to real estate with the county clerk,' accompanied 'by a surrender of the Kentucky certificate of title.'

Q: What happens to a lien when a Kentucky title is surrendered?

It must be cleared. KRS 186A.297(2) provides that a county clerk 'shall not accept a surrender of a Kentucky certificate of title which displays an unreleased lien' unless it is accompanied by a release of the lien or a qualifying attorney affidavit that the liens have been paid.

In Kentucky, a manufactured home is generally personal property carried on a Kentucky certificate of title issued through the county clerk under the Transportation Cabinet's system (KRS Chapter 186A). To treat the home as real estate, the owner files an affidavit of conversion with the county clerk and surrenders the title under KRS 186A.297. For a specific title question, consider consulting a licensed attorney in Kentucky.

What the statute says

On converting a home to real estate, KRS 186A.297(1) provides:

When a manufactured home is or is to be permanently affixed to real estate, the owner may execute and file an affidavit of conversion to real estate with the county clerk of the county in which the real estate is located. The affidavit shall attest to the fact that the home has been or will be permanently affixed to the real estate and be accompanied by a surrender of the Kentucky certificate of title.

On liens, KRS 186A.297(2) provides that the clerk "shall not accept a surrender of a Kentucky certificate of title which displays an unreleased lien" unless it comes with a lien release or a qualifying attorney affidavit. Once filed, KRS 186A.297(7) provides the filing "shall be deemed a conversion of the property as an improvement to the real estate," and the clerk furnishes a copy to the property valuation administrator for the real-property tax rolls.

How it works in general

While the home sits on a rented lot, it is generally personal property on a Kentucky certificate of title. To make it part of the real estate, the owner records an affidavit of conversion with the county clerk and surrenders the title; any lien must be released (or covered by a qualifying attorney affidavit) first. The clerk files the affidavit, the home becomes an improvement to the real estate, and it goes onto the real-property tax rolls. An inaccurate or fraudulent affidavit voids the surrender.

Common scenarios

General examples Kentucky residents commonly encounter:

A home sits on a rented lot. It generally stays personal property on a Kentucky certificate of title, transferred through the county clerk.
An owner places the home on owned land and wants it taxed as real estate. KRS 186A.297 sets the affidavit-of-conversion and title-surrender path.
A lien remains on the home. KRS 186A.297(2) requires a release or qualifying attorney affidavit before the clerk accepts the surrender.

Other authorities that may apply

The county clerk and the Transportation Cabinet administer titling and the conversion; the property valuation administrator handles the real-estate assessment. Lienholder rights and the written purchase or financing documents also control. Where adopted, the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act governs the tenancy itself.