(A) All licenses expire June thirtieth of each even-numbered year following the date of issue, unless sooner revoked or suspended.

(B) An applicant for licensure shall:

(1) demonstrate financial responsibility as required by Section 40-29-95;

(2) for a retail dealer, provide a financial statement reviewed by a licensed certified public accountant;

(3) not have engaged illegally in the licensed classification;

(4) demonstrate familiarity with the regulations adopted by the board concerning the classification for which application is made;

(5) if a corporation, have complied with the laws of South Carolina regarding qualification for doing business in this State or have been incorporated in South Carolina and have and maintain a registered agent and a registered office in this State;

(6) submit proof of registration with the Department of Revenue and submit a current tax identification number;

(7) where applicable, pass an examination administered by the board or its designated test provider in the license classification for which application is made;

(8) where applicable, complete training as prescribed by the board.

(C) A manufactured housing license is not required for a licensed real estate salesman or licensed real estate broker who negotiates or attempts to negotiate for any legal entity the listing, sale, purchase, exchange, lease, or other disposition of a used manufactured or mobile home in conjunction with the listing, sale, purchase, exchange, lease, or other disposition of real estate upon which the used manufactured or mobile home is located.

(D) The holder of a lien on a manufactured home who sells, exchanges, or transfers by lease-purchase a repossessed manufactured home subject to the lien is not subject to the provisions of this chapter if the sale, exchange, or transfer is through a licensed manufactured home retail dealer. A sale by a lienholder conducted through the foreclosure process of Section 29-3-610, et seq. may not be subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(E) A license must be issued in only one person's name who may be the individual owner, stockholder, copartner, manufactured home retail salesman or other representative of a manufactured home manufacturer, manufactured home retail dealer, or other entity required to be licensed. It is the duty of a manufactured home retail dealer and manufactured home manufacturer to conspicuously display the licenses in the established place of business. Manufactured home retail salesmen and manufactured home contractors, installers, and repairers are required to carry their licenses on their persons at all times when they are doing business in this State, and they must be shown upon request.

(F) The board may deny a license to an applicant who submits an application meeting the requirements of this chapter if the applicant has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of a violent crime as defined in Section 16-1-60, a felony directly related to any aspect of the business of manufactured housing, or a felony, an essential element of which is dishonesty, reasonably related to any aspect of the business of manufactured housing.

(G) No person may be issued a license as a manufactured home retail dealer unless the person can show proof satisfactory to the board of two years' experience in the manufactured home industry or other relevant experience acceptable to the board.

(H) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may not grant reciprocity or issue a license to an applicant:

(1) whose license in another state is currently restricted in any way, including probationary or other conditions, or was surrendered in lieu of disciplinary action or was revoked;

(2) who has disciplinary action pending against him in another state; or

(3) who is currently under sentence, including probation or parole, for a violation of Section 16-1-60, a felony directly related to any aspect of the business of manufactured housing, or a felony, an essential element of which is dishonesty, reasonably related to any aspect of the business of manufactured housing.

(I)(1) An applicant may be granted an apprentice salesperson license for up to one hundred twenty days. An apprentice salesperson license may not be issued to an applicant if the applicant has ever been:

(a) denied any type of license issued pursuant to this chapter;

(b) subject to suspension or revocation of a license issued pursuant to this chapter; or

(c) subject to any disciplinary action taken in accordance with this chapter.

(2) An applicant is subject to all of the requirements of this chapter and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, except that an applicant is not required to complete the training, testing, and bond requirements established for a regular retail salesperson license.

HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 61, Section 1; 2013 Act No. 97, Section 3, eff June 20, 2013.

Editor's Note

Prior Laws:1989 Act No. 128, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 902; 1996 Act No. 301 Sections 3, 4, 5, 15; 1976 Code Section 40-29-100.

Effect of Amendment

The 2013 amendment in subsection (B)(1), substituted "Section 40-29-95" for "regulations of the board"; added subsection (B)(2), relating to financial statements, and redesignated subsections accordingly; added subsection (D), relating to the holder of a lien, and redesignated subsections accordingly; rewrote subsections (F) and (H)(3).