who says we can't Live in our RVs?

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Been some discussion about that titled question recently. As a full-time RVer
I sort of take that kind of talk seriously. Luckily, I have a "trusted source" and they
finally chimed in. My Source is RV Travel Newsletter. Been a leader in RV lifestyles
and information for almost 20 years as well as a trustworthy source of news in the
industry. This morning the weekly newsletter hit the in box and here is the article
with links for further reading.

hank


RVers' panic over HUD proposal unfounded

By Greg Illes

hud-737It's early April 2016, and the RV Internet is abuzz with gossip, rumor and (fearful) speculation concerning a soon-to-be-released regulatory revision from the HUD government agency that many RVers believed would prohibit full-time RVing. A quick search for "HUD RV" will turn up more threats and worries than a Republican presidential debate.

Quick summary: The rule benefits RVers and does not restrict residency. Here's why:

HUD is an acronym for Housing and Urban Development (you can read its mission statement here). As you can see at its website, HUD is responsible for many aspects of housing regulation in the U.S, too many to summarize here. But in particular, one of HUD's areas of authority is the setting of construction standards for housing.

Recently, HUD published a rule-making proposal in which the wording was perhaps a tad obscure; more proof that lawyers are a distinct species from Homo sapiens. The regulation has to do with using RVs and "tiny houses" as residences, and required some placarding to the effect that the units were not intended for permanent residency. The full text is available here, https://www.federalregister.gov/article ... creational but few will have the fortitude to read through it — or understand its intent and implications.

The rule sponsored a firestorm of reaction from people who thought their RVs would become "illegal" under the revised regulation — But it was a false alarm. In fact, some of the furor even seems to have been promulgated for sensationalism's sake.

The rule is endorsed by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and should not be a cause for RVers' worry.

Detailed Discussions — We have limited space here, but you can read much more about the ruling and its background in some other articles.

One of the better reviews of the whole fracas can be found in the excellent Snopes site, where (with their usual diligence), the writers explore details and concerns surrounding the regulation. You can read that here to get a thorough understanding, and we'll summarize things below.

Another important communication to review is the statement by the RV Industry Association (and others) enthusiastically endorsing the HUD regulation.

And here is another very readable analysis from RV Dreams, with some additional references, providing more clarification and insight.

So what's all the fuss about? Essentially, the confusion — and concern — arose from the wording in the regulation about living in an RV full-time. The phrase "not intended for" permanent residency was never intended to indicate "not permitted for" permanent residency. In fact, the regulation is an important exemption for RV manufacturers, which permits them to create their products independently from the restrictions for fixed housing. In particular, the rule is intended to differentiate RV "housing" from mobile home housing. This is why the RVIA is not only supporting the rule, but actually participated in drafting it.

OK, but what about safety? HUD, and the RVIA, are trying to more explicitly draw the line between fixed and mobile habitats. HUD is clearly responsible for regulating the quality and safety of fixed homes (including mobile homes) — and RVIA is, and wants to be, responsible for similar issues on RV residences.

So can you still live full-time in your RV? This is, and always has been, largely a local regulation issue. Across our vast country there are an equally vast number of regulatory variations on who can live where, and in what. If you look carefully, regulation seems always to be a matter of where the RV is parked — not how long (or permanently) anybody has been living in it. And realistically speaking, what conceivable government agency is going to try to keep track of how many days any of us spend living in our RVs? Even Big Brother doesn't have that many resources.

On balance, it's easy to see that there have been some overreactions to the ruling. Some may even have been intentional, for the sake of hits and clicks on a website. But clearly, the support of RVIA, and analyses by objective reviewers, shows us the actuality of the situation.

LINKS SUMMARY
For easy reference, here are the links mentioned above in the article text:

The ruling https://www.federalregister.gov/article ... creational
HUD mission http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/mission
Snopes review http://www.snopes.com/hud-tiny-homes-ban
RVIA statement http://www.rvia.org/?ESID=preleases&PRID=1739&SR=11
RV Dreams article http://www.rv-dreams-journal.com/2016/0 ... rpose.html

[flboy]

Thanks for clarifying that. I just saw some whacko youtube video on this and it was a cause for alarm. I do not live in an RV fulltime... but I certainly understand why people do. Thanks.

[Padilen]

I heard about this and the first thing I thought of was all the RV's that the government buys to house those hit by disaster. Figured it wasn't as sources claimed.

[MtnDon]

As always, research internet news that is alarmist in nature. Much of that sort of is misrepresented.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Very good Mr Hank
Thank you

Now I just need to find some RVIA seals for my build.

[m.colley]

I heard about this and the first thing I thought of was all the RV's that the government buys to house those hit by disaster. Figured it wasn't as sources claimed.

Granted the FED's(FEMA) buy a few RV's for temporary disaster relief but they buy several thousand more mobile/manufactured homes than that. With that said, even then they are still considered temporary housing. The mobile/manufactured homes have to meet HUD standards, the RV"s have to meet RIVA standards. I worked for a factory in the mid 80's that built for FEMA, we shipped mobile homes to FEMA storage lots all across the country.
In 1992 when Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida I worked 18hours a day 63 days straight setting up MH and Rv's in Florida. I personally setup/installed over 3500 trailers and helped set up alot more. Now if only I had saved that money I'd be really well off. First time I ever had the chance to run under federal DOT exemptions placards. Our trucks could run 24 hours a day and law enforcement couldn't stop you..


Martin