§ 143-143.19. Dealer alterations.
§ 143‑143.19. Dealeralterations.
(a) No alteration ormodification shall be made to a manufactured home by a dealer after shipmentfrom the manufacturer's plant, unless such alteration or modification isauthorized by this Part or the manufacturer. The dealer shall ensure that allauthorized alterations and modifications are performed, if so required, byqualified persons as defined in subsection (d). An unauthorized alteration ormodification performed by a dealer or his agent or employee shall place primarywarranty responsibility for the altered or modified item upon the dealer. Ifthe manufacturer fulfills or is required to fulfill the warranty on the alteredor modified item, he shall be entitled to recover damages in the amount of hiscost and attorney's fee from the dealer.
(b) An unauthorizedalteration or modification of a manufactured home by the owner or his agentshall relieve the manufacturer of responsibility to remedy defects caused bysuch alteration or modification. A statement to this effect, together with awarning specifying those alterations or modifications which should be performedonly by qualified personnel in order to preserve warranty protection, shall bedisplayed clearly and conspicuously on the face of the warranty. Failure to displaysuch statement shall result in warranty responsibility on the manufacturer.
(c) The Board isauthorized to adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 150B of the GeneralStatutes that define the alterations or modifications which must be made byqualified personnel. The Board may require qualified personnel only for thosealterations and modifications which could substantially impair the structuralintegrity or safety of the manufactured home.
(d) In order to bedesignated as a person qualified to alter or modify a manufactured home, aperson must comply with State licensing or competency requirements in skillsrelevant to performing alterations or modifications on manufactured homes. (1981, c. 952, s. 2; 1987, c.429, s. 19; c. 827, s. 1; 1999‑393, s. 1; 2005‑451, s. 1.)