Columbia Standard

The Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina (MHISC) is sounding the alarm about a housing scam that misrepresents illegal structures as residential "tiny homes."

“MHISC has learned of an increasing number of small popup operations across the state featuring roadside retailers selling modified storage sheds marketed as ‘tiny homes,’ intentionally misrepresented as legal dwellings,” the organization said on its website. “In many cases, these structures are not built to proper state codes and lack the safety standards needed to support habitation, including proper ventilation for toxic byproducts of heating and cooking appliances.”

Consumers who are in the market for a prefabricated tiny home should make certain the structure they are considering has been erected to meet either the South Carolina Residential Building Code or the Federal Housing and Urban Development Code.

All legally inspected structures are required to have labels in their breaker boxes certifying their approval. Any prefabricated home lacking such a label should be considered an illegal residence by South Carolina standards.

According to MHISC, several county building code officials have recently reported that unlawful businesses are purchasing prefabricated storage sheds under 200 square feet, which are considered “accessory structures” by the state, and modifying them to include amenities such as plumbing, electric and/or HVAC.

“When an inspector discovers an illegal structure on residential property without proper permits, the structure must be modified to meet the South Carolina Residential Code or be demolished,” MHISC said. “In most cases, the inspector will require that the finished walls be torn out for inspection purposes, and fines may be levied against the owner."

State officials are now asking the public for help in calling attention to such scams. If you are aware of any of these scams happening in South Carolina, please contact your county’s building inspections department. You can also report suspected scams by filing a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.