Harriman woman's mobile home collapses shortly after inspection

Harriman woman's mobile home collapses shortly after inspection

By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter

HARRIMAN (WATE) -- A Harriman woman was at home getting ready to begin her day recently when the floor suddenly started moving. But the problem wasn't an earthquake.

In Tennessee, thousands of mobile homes are on private lots. If a home is bought new, it's usually set up by the sales lot where it was purchased.

Strict rules are set up by the state for tie downs, footers and electric. Inspections are conducted by the state fire marshall's office.

Brenda Rains complained to the fire marshall just weeks before disaster struck her home earlier in October. Her doublewide mobile home fell off its foundation two weeks ago Monday.

"This entire house looks like it's fallen about two feet," I said when 6 On Your Side visited. "All the footer in the back of your house have collapsed." 

"Yes, right," she said. In fact, a steel frame supporting the home is bent.

Brenda was inside when the home collapsed. "I was taking a shower. I heard stuff falling, then all of a sudden, the house went boom."

The walls in several rooms have buckled. The front door to her home doesn't close. The floor on one side of the home is about four inches higher than the other.

Brenda bought the trailer from Ben's Home Center in Clinton five years ago. Ben's also set up the home.

Brenda said the home was set up in a low part of her property where the water settles. For years, moisture created mold on the siding.

Brenda's husband died of cancer last year and she's on her own.

Concerned about the condition of her home before it collapsed, she contacted the state fire marshall who inspected it in early September. Several people from Ben's Home Center were present during that inspection.

The report reads, "The slope of the land at the front of the house is much higher than at the rear of the home." It also says the slope allows the water to accumulate under the home which violates the manufacture's code. Plus, "This home is installed on a site that does not comply with the manufacturer's installation requirements."

"What does Ben's Home Center say about this report?" I asked.

"Ben's says it's okay to stay in here because it's safe and he doesn't seem to think that's a problem," Brenda said. 

Ben Graves, the owner of Ben's Home Center, had a different opinion on Monday. 

He didn't want to appear on camera, but he told 6 On Your Side, "It's a very unfortunate thing, but an unavoidable accident. Our insurance company has contacted Mrs. Rains' provider. The situation is being handled."

However, Brenda said, "I want a new home. I want Ben's to correct this, take this out of here and give me a new home."

Ben Graves said it's likely Brenda will get a new home, but the details haven't been worked out yet.

Brenda contacted the Manufactured Housing Section at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Under its agreement with HUD, the manufactured housing section investigates and monitors consumer complaints.

The division doesn't pursue complaints about contracts or cosmetic issues, only those dealing with construction safety concerns.

Here's additional contact information for the Manufactured Housing Section:

Division of Fire Prevention
Manufactured Housing Section 
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1162
Phone: 615-741-7192
Fax: 615-741-9388