HB1357

Dear legislators, please support HB1357. My husband's family grew up in a manufactured ("prefab") home in Massachusetts. It was built offsite and put together in less the one day then gradually finished, while my family lived there, thanks to local contractors. I am horrified that we do not allow lower-cost, higher-efficiency manufactured housing of all sizes by-right in most towns in the Live Free of Die state! We have a contractor shortage, a housing shortage, and an affodability crisis here in NH, and passing this bill could help with all of these problems with no money from taxpayers. A win x 4! Please pass this law to allow people like my mother-in-law, a teacher, and my father-in-law, an engineer, and their kids (who are now both living and working in New Hampshire, as a nurse practitoner and an engineer and Navy reservist) to live and work in our Granite State communities. Thank you. Molly Lunn Owen, Concord NH

Manufactured homes are often an affordable alternative to traditional homes. Manufactured homes provide lower cost construction options for first-time homebuyers, young families, and retirees looking to downsize. This bill would expand access to manufactured homes, creating homeownership opportunities for lower income families.

Housing in New Hampshire is a nightmare. We have very little available housing and prices skyrocketing, combined with high taxes and interest rates, making it nigh impossible for young families to put down roots. Instead, they're moving away to cities with higher wages or more rural states with lower housing costs, so that they might have a shot at affording a family. Manufactured homes offer a more affordable way for families to have a shot at home ownership, allowing them to live and work in New Hampshire and raise their families here. Anything that encourages young families to want to grow here is a win in my book. Please support HB1357.

Being a home owner is one of the few ways people can better their lives and create stability for them and their children. We need to make it affordable again.

Permitting manufactured homes by right increases affordable housing options, prevents exclusionary zoning, and supports equitable community access

As a disabled parent, my income is so low that I qualify for every possible state benefits programs, as well as Medicare, HUD housing choice voucher program (formerly known as section 8), and federal energy and heat assistance. Even with a HUD HCV, it can be so difficult to find a landlord who will accept a HUD client, that some people lose their voucher because they are unable to find a rental within the required eight weeks. I was fortunate to have a friend who is a landlord, and had an apartment available. I have had stable housing now for 7 1/2 years. But it was not always this way. As a child in the 1970s, my mother and I moved in to a single wide trailer and lived in a mobile home park. It was one of the most stable points in my childhood. As an adult with children, prior to receiving our HCV, myself and my two school-age children, were living in extreme poverty, even with child support. My Housing cost was 73% of my income. Fortunately, this apartment rent included power and heat, as well as trash and water utilities. But trying to survive on $1400 a month, even in 2017, was tenuous, and demoralizing. Just before we were offered public housing or an HCV benefit, there was a mobile home park that had a manufactured home for sale. However, the limitations on living there were such that it was inaccessible to my family. I know for a fact that I am not unique in our socioeconomic cohort. In addition to extremely low income, the explosion in rental rates mean that the apartment I was renting in Laconia for $875 a month is now approximately double the cost. However, my SSDI has gone from the $800 range, to now in 2026, $991 per month. An increase of only 24%, meaning that I would be approximately $600 short, even to make the basic rent. Mobile home lots often are under $600 in monthly rent. Mobile homes themselves, can be purchased for under $20,000 and potentially bundled with rent if the mobile home park owns the home. Even with paying utilities, it's still going to be less than what I was paying for a small two bedroom apartment in 2018. With so many people currently unhoused, due to rent increases in the last five years, making mobile homes easier to access will get families into housing quicker, and less expensively, than with other types of housing. Whether or not you believe Housing is a human right, shelter is a human need. Housing insecurity is such an unbelievable stressor that it literally takes years off of people's lives. The more people in our state, whose basic needs are being met, the better for every part of New Hampshire. Please support this bill, so that we can get families out of shelters and off the streets, and into their own homes. Thank you, Jennifer Harris Manchester, NH

Good morning, Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Kim Capen and I live in Goffstown, NH in a manufactured housing community, Medvil Cooperative. I come to speak in support of HB 1357 The Stigma associated with Manufactured housing is alive and well in NH and that is unfortunate. The truth is that too few legislators along with the general public need to educate themselves as to what today’s manufactured home really is. It is an affordable home built by HUD standards that today are getting very close to the same BOCA and ICC codes used by towns to hold builders of stick-built homes to a higher standard. Energy Star ratings, 2X6 outer wall construction, ability to be placed on full foundations, and the list goes on. HUD has stricken from all their document language the wording “mobile home” and replaced it with manufactured home for good reason. They are no longer mobile; they are designed and built to be permanent. As we struggle in NH to provide unsubsidized affordable housing to meet the needs of a workforce that is needed to support our largest industry, tourism, we cannot afford to live in the past and we cannot afford to ignore the need to support a workforce whose wages are lower/middle income wages. We need housing for our workers, and they deserve the dignity of home ownership. The truth is one size fits all doesn’t work in a state that is mostly rural. We should not be catering to the unfounded concerns of our larger populated cities and their nearby neighbors. The likelihood of a contractor or landowner placing an $ 80-120,000 manufactured home on a $200,000 - $300,000 lot is highly unlikely. Would be homeowners should have the opportunity to place a well-constructed HUD home on a reasonably priced lot on our more rural towns in NH without a statewide restriction and should be encouraged by the fact that towns cannot unnecessarily restrict them from doing so. I live in a manufactured home in Goffstown, NH. That home was originally built in 1982 under the HUD code then. Its cost was about $60,000 at the time. I have kept up the home and made several improvements over the 19 years I have lived here just as anyone would do in any stick-built home. Today my home is valued at $250,000 to $260,000 in a manufactured home community owned and governed by the residents where homes are selling for about the same or more on a regular basis. The stigma associated with these homes is unfounded, backward thinking and a detriment to progress at solving the affordable housing crisis here in NH. Legislators should be promoting and encouraging new affordable home opportunities and not discouraging it by promoting the unfounded stigma of the past regarding manufactured homes. I applaud the legislators that are introducing such legislation and their forward thinking to solving a housing crisis, especially for the workers we need to support the industries in our state that help to maintain the affordability of raising a family in our great State. Support of this legislation is support for the dignity of the men and women we need in our service industries in NH. Respectfully, Kim Capen

This is a great bill, which will hopefully allow for more affordable housing in New Hampshire. I'm proud to support.

Hello, My name is Chrissy Simonds, and I reside in Manchester. I was formerly homeless due to domestic violence. I found housing through Families In Transition. My mother attempted to assist me by purchasing a manufactured home so that I could rent it for myself and my son to live in. Unfortunately, in Manchester, there was only one mobile home park available, and there was no space for another manufactured home. If HB1357 were supported by this committee, more mobile home parks would likely open up. I am aware from personal experience that finding housing, particularly affordable housing, is one of the most challenging challenges I have encountered. I appreciate your time from members of this committee to read my testimony.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of HB 1357. HB 1357 would allow newly constructed manufactured homes to be placed “by right” on individual residential lots across all residentially zoned areas in New Hampshire, and would prohibit discriminatory zoning restrictions against them. I support this bill because: 1. It Expands Affordable Homeownership Options New Hampshire is facing a statewide shortage of affordable and attainable homes. Many Granite Staters, especially first-time buyers and moderate-income families, struggle to afford traditional stick-built homes. Manufactured homes represent a more affordable pathway to ownership while still offering quality housing. Allowing them by right expands these options without lowering standards. 2. It Reduces Exclusionary Zoning Practices Currently, some communities restrict the placement of manufactured homes through zoning rules, which can exclude them even where housing is most needed. HB 1357 would ensure that manufactured homes are treated the same as other housing types in residential zones, reducing discriminatory zoning and helping diversify housing stock statewide. 3. Supports Aging in Place and Downsizing Older residents who want to downsize or simplify their living arrangements are often limited by local zoning that excludes manufactured homes. Making them permitted by right gives residents more options to age in place and remain in their communities. 4. Helps Attract and Retain Workers Employers across New Hampshire report difficulty recruiting and retaining workers due in part to housing shortages and high costs. Expanded affordable housing options, such as manufactured homes, can help support workforce stability and economic growth. 5. Maintains Local Planning While Increasing Options This bill does not eliminate residential zoning altogether. It simply ensures that manufactured homes are permitted in residential zones if they meet existing standards. This allows towns to continue reasonable planning and safety oversight while opening up housing options. Conclusion HB 1357 is a common-sense change that promotes housing affordability, reduces exclusionary zoning, and expands opportunity for Granite Staters across the state. I urge the committee to vote to pass and to support policies that make safe, attainable housing a reality for more families. Thank you.

Allowing individuals to place manufactured housing on residential lots will enable people who are currently shut out of the housing market to become homeowners. Newly manufactured homes are built to HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards that are designed to provide structural integrity, fire safety and energy efficiency. It is time to put aside old stereotypes about manufactured housing, and open the door to home ownership for Granite Staters.

Manufactured homes are often an affordable alternative to traditional homes. Manufactured homes provide lower cost construction options for first-time homebuyers, young families, and retirees looking to downsize. This bill would expand access to manufactured homes, creating homeownership opportunities for lower income families.

This bill simply seeks to open up more affordable housing opportunities in New Hampshire. NIMBYs in their McMansions along with local planning/zoning boards & over the top permitting/inspection requirements need to be reined in a little bit so folks can afford to live under a roof on their own property. I'm sitting in a new modular house which looks like a stick built. There are at least two or three double or single wide homes on my road. They hurt nothing and I certainly don't expect them to worry about my property value. I definitely don't expect the town's boards to worry about my property's resale value, but that is what we have in some towns. It is unfortunately time for the state to step in and push the NIMBYs back under the bridge they crawled out from under. OTP please.

Chairman and Members of the Committee, My name is Jeanee Wright, and I am a New Hampshire homeowner living in Exeter. I am writing in strong support of HB 1357. My husband and I own a single-wide manufactured home built in 1983. We purchased our home in 2007, and today it is assessed at nearly three times what we paid. I share this not as an anomaly, but as real-world evidence that manufactured housing is a stable, appreciating form of homeownership that deserves the same respect and treatment as other single-family housing. I urge the Committee to consider three key points as you evaluate this legislation. First, manufactured housing is one of the most accessible paths to homeownership for working individuals and families in today’s housing market. With rising interest rates, construction costs, and limited housing supply, manufactured homes often represent the only realistic opportunity for first-time buyers and working households to own a home. Homeownership is a proven wealth-building tool—one that renters simply do not have access to. Manufactured homes do appreciate alongside the broader housing market, a fact reflected clearly in local tax assessments across New Hampshire. This is not speculative; it is measurable and documented. Second, persistent misunderstanding and stigma surrounding manufactured housing continue to harm housing solutions in our state. Outdated perceptions about quality, safety, and value no longer reflect reality. Modern manufactured housing is built to rigorous federal standards, offers long-term durability, and provides secure, stable housing for tens of thousands of New Hampshire residents. Continuing to treat manufactured housing as “less than” other forms of single-family housing only worsens our housing shortage and limits sensible, affordable development options. Third, manufactured housing plays a critical role in long-term housing stability and retirement planning. My husband and I are entering the retirement planning phase of our lives, and our manufactured home is our forever home. This allows us to invest in the home we already own, remain in a community where we are comfortable and supported, and plan for aging in place. Just as importantly, this reduces the likelihood that we will need subsidized senior housing in the future. Policies that support manufactured housing help working people remain independent, financially stable, and housed with dignity as they age. Ensuring that manufactured housing is treated equitably alongside other single-family housing is the right step for New Hampshire. It supports the working class, strengthens local communities, and advances realistic solutions to our housing crisis. Thank you for your time and consideration. I respectfully urge the Committee to support HB 1357. Sincerely, Jeanee Wright Exeter, New Hampshire

We NEED more affordable housing in NH. I live in a 1bd 1ba apartment with NO utilities included for $1600/month. I make 60k/year, 15k ABOVE the state median, and I can barely afford to live. I'm 26 years old with two degrees and a full-time salaried job. I shouldn't struggle to afford a 1bd apartment for myself in New Hampshire. Young people will leave this state and take their skills, their children, and their revenue with them if the housing crisis is not addressed.

Affordable housing is more important than ever before - allowing more manufactured homes creates the opportunity for lower income families to find housing.

I'm honestly not a huge fan of Mfg homes, however; in todays economy they are one, of very few, options to get people into affordable homes. Do the right thing and support this bill!

Honorable Chair and Members of the Committee, My name is Amanda Sanchez, and I live in Plainfield, New Hampshire, in a resident-owned manufactured home community. I’ve lived in New Hampshire for most of my life and have been a homeowner here for 16 years. I currently serve as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Plainfield Village Cooperative. I also serve as the President of the Mobile/Manufactured-Home Owners and Tenants Association of NH (MOTA-NH). I strongly SUPPORT HB1357! New Hampshire is facing a serious housing crisis. We need tens of thousands of new housing units by 2030 just to meet current demand. Yet local zoning laws continue to block one of the most affordable, efficient, and fastest ways to increase homeownership: newly constructed manufactured homes. Manufactured homes today are not the “trailers” people imagine. They are safe, energy-efficient, code-regulated homes built to modern HUD standards. Many look indistinguishable from site-built homes and can be an excellent option for working families, retirees, and young people who want to own a home in their own community. HB 1357 is about fairness, access, and common sense. If a home meets state building and safety standards, it should be allowed in residential zones, just like any other single-family home. Local bans and excessive zoning barriers artificially inflate housing costs and prevent communities from meeting real housing needs. This bill would: • Expand affordable homeownership opportunities • Increase housing supply without taxpayer subsidies • Help stabilize local workforces • Allow seniors and young families to age in place or buy their first home • Reduce displacement pressures in existing manufactured housing parks As someone who lives in a resident-owned community, I can tell you firsthand that manufactured housing is not a problem; it is part of the solution. Residents take pride in their homes and neighborhoods. These homes provide long-term stability, community ties, and economic security for thousands of New Hampshire families. Blocking new manufactured homes doesn’t preserve community character. It preserves exclusion and scarcity. If New Hampshire is serious about solving its housing crisis, we must remove outdated and discriminatory zoning barriers and allow all safe, modern forms of housing to be built. HB 1357 is a smart, necessary step forward. I urge you to support it. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully submitted, Amanda Sanchez Plainfield, New Hampshire

Manufactured homes are often an affordable alternative to traditional homes. Manufactured homes provide lower cost construction options for first-time homebuyers, young families, and retirees looking to downsize. This bill would expand access to manufactured homes, creating homeownership opportunities for lower income families.

Manufactured homes are often an affordable alternative to traditional homes. Manufactured homes provide lower cost construction options for first-time homebuyers, young families, and retirees looking to downsize. This bill would expand access to manufactured homes, creating homeownership opportunities for lower income families.