HF 377 requires landlords in Iowa to address elevated radon levels in rental properties. Tenants can test for radon (using a certified professional) and must notify landlords if levels reach 4 parts per billion (the EPA action level). If confirmed high, landlords must install a radon mitigation system within 90 days and retest, providing results to tenants. If landlords fail to install the system or radon remains high after installation, tenants can terminate their lease with full refunds of prepaid rent and security deposits, without penalties. This bill directly affects renters and landlords in Iowa rental housing.
HF 689 prohibits landlords in Iowa from discriminating against tenants based on their source of income. It defines "source of income" to include housing vouchers, public benefits, social security, veterans' benefits, and other approved assistance programs. Landlords cannot deny tenancy, charge different fees, or restrict access to housing because a tenant uses these income sources, including housing choice vouchers or rental assistance. The law applies to both standard rental units and mobile home spaces, ensuring equal access for tenants relying on federally or state-supported income programs.
HF 482 restricts landlords in Iowa mobile home parks and manufactured home communities from ending rental agreements solely to reassign a tenant's space to another resident. The bill requires landlords to have a tenant's "material violation" of the rental agreement (such as nonpayment or property damage) as the sole reason for termination, banning terminations intended only to make space available for new tenants. Rental agreements must still provide 90 days' written notice for cancellation by either party, and the law applies only to agreements entered into or renewed after the bill's effective date. This directly affects tenants in mobile home communities by limiting landlord power to evict without cause.
HF 691 creates a residential rebate program in Iowa for homeowners and renters from fiscal years 2025-2030. Homeowners who claimed a property tax credit in the previous year receive $1,000 annually, while renters of primary residences qualify for $500 per year (with limits of two rebates per rental unit and one per household). The program is funded through the taxpayer relief fund, with payments made by January 1 each year to eligible individuals who submit claims to the Department of Revenue. The bill specifies eligibility based on prior tax credit claims for owners and verified primary residence documentation for renters.
SF 421 amends Iowa's landlord-tenant laws to clarify notice requirements, strengthen tenant protections, and update eviction procedures. It specifies that mail notices are deemed delivered four days after mailing (Sections 2, 5), defines "rent" to include utilities and late fees (Section 1), and makes prohibited rental terms unenforceable with tenant remedies for damages (Sections 3, 6). The bill also requires notices to be posted at the property entrance and mailed, with records sealed for residential eviction cases under specific conditions (Sections 4, 7, 11). These changes directly affect tenants and landlords by standardizing communication, limiting unfair terms, and creating record-sealing options for tenants after eviction judgments.
This bill limits rent increases in mobile home parks and manufactured home communities to once per calendar year, requiring landlords to provide tenants with 90 days' written notice before any increase. Landlords may only raise rent more frequently if justified by higher insurance premiums or infrastructure costs paid by tenants. It directly affects tenants in these communities by reducing the frequency of unexpected rent hikes. The law amends existing notice and timing rules to provide greater housing cost predictability.
HF 745 allows Iowa cities to prohibit corporations or business entities using private equity funds, hedge funds, or real estate funds from purchasing single-family homes between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2030. This directly affects large investment firms and corporate landlords seeking to buy residential properties in local communities. Cities could implement this restriction through local ordinances during the five-year period, which automatically expires after 2030. The bill aims to limit corporate ownership of single-family homes to promote community welfare, without affecting individual homebuyers or non-corporate entities.
HF 740 limits rent increases for current tenants in Iowa residential rentals and mobile home parks. Landlords cannot raise rents more than three times the Midwest consumer price index (CPI) increase over the past year or the assessed property value increase (whichever is higher), whichever is greater. Mobile home park tenants must receive written notice of any rent increase at least 90 days before it takes effect. The bill directly affects existing renters in these housing types by capping annual rent hikes based on economic or property value metrics.
HB 141 allows tenants who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or other qualifying crimes to terminate rental agreements early without penalty. Tenants must provide written notice to landlords along with specific documentation, such as a protective order, police report, or medical documentation from a licensed provider verifying the victimization. The bill protects tenants from being charged fees, losing security deposits, or receiving negative credit references for using this right, and prohibits landlords from refusing to rent based on prior use of this provision. Tenants remain responsible for rent through the termination date (14-30 days after notice) but are released from liability for future rent or damages.
This bill (HSB 234) updates Iowa's property law by increasing the annual license fee for manufactured/mobile home retailers from $100 to $120 (Section 1). It defines "rent" to include all payments tenants make to landlords, such as base rent, utilities, and late fees (Section 2). The bill strengthens tenant protections by making prohibited terms in rental agreements unenforceable and allowing tenants to recover damages if landlords knowingly enforce them (Sections 4, 7). It also clarifies notice requirements for landlords, specifying that mailed notices are deemed delivered four days after mailing (Sections 3, 6), and restricts landlord access to mobile homes except in emergencies or after court orders (Section 8). These changes directly affect mobile home retailers, landlords, and tenants in rental agreements.
