When the real estate and the manufactured home are owned by the same owner(s), and the manufactured home is affixed to the real estate, the owner(s) may record an Affidavit of Affixation. T.C.A. § 55-3-128.  The recording of an Affidavit of Affixation in the register of deeds’ office will be prima facie evidence that the manufactured home is affixed to real property as an improvement to the property, so that lenders will be able to rely on the affidavit to file and properly perfect their liens, and bankruptcy judges may rely on the affidavit in connection with determining whether a manufactured home qualifies as a principal residence. This also means that the manufactured home is to be taxed as part of the real property to which it is affixed, so the assessor of property will need to know when these affidavits are filed so that the property may be added to the county’s tax rolls.

The Affidavit of Affixation is required to be substantially in the form set out in T.C.A. § 55-3-128.  The owner of the manufactured home and real property must answer the questions listed on the affidavit under oath, and then file the completed affidavit in the office of the register of deeds.  The register records the instrument with the real estate records after receiving the proper fees.  A copy of the affidavit also must be filed with the assessor of property.

The Affidavit of Affixation is to be used only when the owner of the manufactured home also owns the real estate to which the home is affixed.  If the land is owned by someone other than the owner of the manufactured home, a certificate of title must be obtained regardless of whether the home is affixed to the land.