Author: Rick Robinson

About Rick Robinson: Well-known industry professional Rick Robinson has joined ManufacturedHomes.com to become its Executive Vice President of Industry Relations. In that role, the former General Counsel/Senior Vice President of State and Local Affairs for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) will be working to bring a new level of consumer technology to those buying homes and residing in communities.

Posts by Rick Robinson

Compliance WEBINAR: Understanding “Red Flag” Rules in Manufactured Housing; LIVE LINK: Dec 10, 2:00pm ET

Posted on November 10, 2025 (November 14, 2025)

In today’s regulatory environment, compliance isn’t optional, it’s essential. The Federal Trade Commission’s Red Flag Rules were designed to protect consumers from identity theft, but their impact extends far beyond banks and credit card companies. In the manufactured housing industry, retailers, lenders, and community owners who handle credit applications or customer data are also required […]

Fair Housing Update

Posted on August 9, 2023 (January 17, 2024)

There has been a lot of activity from HUD on Fair Housing cases during the end of 2022 and half way through this year. Below are some examples of enforcement actions, orders and settlements: CALIFORNIA – $3,000,000! That was the settlement against a management company of 48 apartment complexes where the rules prohibited any outdoor […]

August 2022 Fair Housing Update

Posted on August 23, 2022 (January 17, 2024)

Remember the Facebook case? It was a case brought by the US Department of Justice alleging that the algorithms and systems used in FB ads violated the Fair Housing Act. Specifically, the complaint alleged, among other things, that FB used algorithms in determining which Facebook users receive housing ads and that those algorithms rely, in […]

June 2022 Fair Housing Update

Posted on June 15, 2022 (January 17, 2024)

Many of the Fair Housing Act violations alleged in the latest cases prosecuted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) involve apparent violations. It is hard to imagine in today’s atmosphere that a landlord would demand sexual favors from a tenant or tell a prospective tenant they need to speak Engish. However, even […]

In Memoriam: Bill Matchneer

Posted on December 29, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

If you ever went to an MHI meeting, you knew Bill Matchneer. A former administrator of HUD’s Manufactured Housing Program, Bill always added a historical perspective to the HUD Code unlike anyone else. Bill passed away just before Christmas after an 18 year battle with Multiple Myeloma. Personally, Bill and I shared a love of […]

New Fair Housing Case Poses Big Problem for Community Owners

Posted on December 29, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

Recently the New Yorker published an article regarding the decision in an Iowa lawsuit involving the use of Section 8 housing vouchers for lot rent as a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act. The decision in favor of the resident was hailed by the New Yorker as a “promising victory,” but is an absolute […]

HUD Fair Housing Case Involving MH Community Has Facts That May Surprise You

Posted on October 20, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

The owners of a manufactured home community in Rochester, New Hampshire have settled a Fair Housing claim involving alleged disability discrimination. The facts of this case may not only surprise you but also give you a good reason to review your Fair Housing policies. The community in this case is a 55+ community. The facts […]

September 2021 Fair Housing Update

Posted on September 21, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

The Administration has been very active over the summer revising policies involving the Fair Housing Act. First, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) entered into a first-of-its-kind collaborative agreement regarding fair housing and fair lending coordination. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two Agencies […]

HUD Charges California MHP With Housing Discrimination

Posted on September 1, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has charged a manufactured home operator in Oceanside, CA, with violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a resident with disabilities a reasonable accommodation to have an emotional assistance animal. Read HUD’s charge. It is important to note that the facts from this case date […]

May 2021 Fair Housing Report

Posted on May 25, 2021 (January 17, 2024)

Administrations may change, but Fair Housing enforcement actions continue. Before going directly into the latest cases, it is important to note that, shortly after entering office, President Biden wrote an Executive Order on Fair Housing and discrimination. Read the Executive Order here. The Acting Secretary for HUD back in January stated, “Only by recognizing and […]