The Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina (MHISC) is warning local residents to be on the lookout for illegally modified structures being sold as “tiny homes.”
MHISC announced that there has been a rise of roadside scams across the state involving the illegal sale of modified storage sheds marketed as tiny homes.
“When purchasing a prefabricated tiny home intended for permanent residence, customers should make certain the home is built to either the South Carolina Residential Building Code or the Federal Housing and Urban Development Code,” according to the MHISC website. “Such legal structures are required to have labels in their breaker boxes certifying they have been inspected by someone licensed by either the SC Building Codes Council or HUD (Housing and Urban Development). If a prefabricated home does not have one of these two labels, it is illegal to use as a residence in South Carolina.”
South Carolina county building code officials report that scammers are purchasing prefabricated storage sheds and modifying them to include plumbing, electric and/or HVAC. These modified storage sheds are not built to proper state codes and cannot be sold as legal dwellings. They often lack basic necessary safety standards, including proper ventilation for heating and cooking.
Storage sheds under 200 square feet are exempt from permit requirements, but once amenities such as plumbing, electric or HVAC are added to repurpose the dwelling for habitation, the structure no longer receives these exemptions.
Unknowingly, buyers may be in for expensive penalties. These structures are subject to South Carolina Residential Codes, and owners may be forced to modify them to meet proper codes and may be subject to fines as well.
Officials are requesting help from the public to help identify these scammers. Anyone who is aware of the scams or has been the victim of one is urged to contact their county’s building inspections department. Unlicensed practices can also be reported to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
