What construction and anchoring standards govern a West Virginia manufactured home?

The federal HUD code. A manufactured home is built to the federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (24 C.F.R. Part 3280), which set the wind-zone construction and anchoring requirements, as referenced in West Virginia's definitions (W. Va. Code §37-15-2). West Virginia has no statute requiring a park to provide a storm shelter. This is general information, not advice about a specific situation — consider consulting a licensed attorney in West Virginia.

Who is responsible for keeping a West Virginia rental fit and habitable?

The landlord, under the general landlord-tenant law. Under W. Va. Code §37-6-30, a landlord must, among other things, maintain the premises 'in a fit and habitable condition,' keep common areas reasonably safe, and maintain the supplied utilities and facilities in good and safe working order — duties that matter most when a storm strains a park's systems.

Can a West Virginia park force my home out after a storm?

Not by self-help, and not in a mass eviction without notice. Under W. Va. Code §37-15-6(d), a landlord can't remove the home as a self-help measure, and under §37-15-6a, evicting more than 25 residents in an 18-month period requires every tenant's agreement, six months' notice, or a tenant breach — with treble damages and relocation costs for a violation.

Mobile home storm rules in West Virginia

West Virginia addresses storm and disaster safety through the federal HUD construction code, the general landlord-tenant habitability duty, and the Mobile Home Parks act's limits on removals and mass evictions. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone dealing with a specific situation should consider consulting a licensed attorney in West Virginia.

What the statute says

The home's construction and anchoring follow the federal HUD code (24 C.F.R. Part 3280), referenced in the definitions of "manufactured home" in W. Va. Code §37-15-2. Habitability comes from the general landlord-tenant law: under W. Va. Code §37-6-30, a landlord must deliver and maintain the premises "in a fit and habitable condition," keep common areas "in a clean, safe condition," and "maintain in good and safe working order ... all ... utilities, and ... facilities supplied or required to be supplied by him."

The Mobile Home Parks act adds protections relevant to a disaster: §37-15-6(d) bars a landlord from "removal of the factory-built home from the ... site, or ... any other willful self-help measure," and §37-15-6a limits a mass eviction of "more than twenty-five tenants ... within a single eighteen-month period" to a process requiring every tenant's agreement, "six months' notice," or a tenant breach.

How it works in general

For the home itself, West Virginia relies on the federal HUD code's wind-zone construction and anchoring standards. For the lot and common areas, the general landlord-tenant habitability duty applies — the landlord has to keep the premises fit and habitable and the supplied utilities and facilities in safe working order, which matters most when a storm strains a park's roads, drainage, or utilities. West Virginia doesn't require a park to provide a storm shelter, so disaster preparation and assistance run through state and federal emergency management. And if a storm leads a park toward closure, the home can't be removed by self-help, and a mass eviction of more than 25 residents requires six months' notice.

Common scenarios

General examples West Virginia park residents commonly encounter:

A storm strains the park's supplied utilities or common areas. The general habitability duty requires the landlord to keep them in safe working order (§37-6-30).
Questions arise about how a home is built or anchored. The federal HUD code governs construction and wind-zone requirements (24 C.F.R. Part 3280).
A disaster pushes a park toward a large-scale eviction. Removing the home by self-help is barred, and a mass eviction needs six months' notice (§§37-15-6(d), 37-15-6a).

Other authorities that may apply

The Mobile Home Parks act (§§37-15-6, 37-15-6a) bars self-help removal and limits mass evictions; the general landlord-tenant law (§37-6-30) sets the habitability duty; the federal HUD code governs home construction and anchoring. The West Virginia Emergency Management Division and FEMA administer disaster assistance, and a homeowner's insurance policy — not statute — usually governs storm-damage claims.