Housing (Renters) in Iowa

passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SF 2438: A bill for an act relating to city utilities including landlord notification, and including effective date provisions.

SF 2438 amends Iowa utility laws to require city utilities to automatically notify landlords when a tenant is 60 days delinquent on payments (removing the prior requirement for landlords to request this notice), and to provide at least 10 days' notice before disconnecting service. It expands acceptable methods for landlords to provide written notice that a property is rental housing (including online, email, or fax), exempting the property from liens for unpaid tenant-paid utility bills like water, sewage, or solid waste. Utilities may now require deposits up to 90 days for water/sewage services or 60 days for gas/electric, with deposits refunded when tenants move out. The bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and city utilities in Iowa.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SF 2225: A bill for an act relating to property law, including rental properties, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, and actions relating to such properties, making penalties applicable, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This Iowa bill (SF 2225) sets new rules for landlords in rental properties, manufactured home communities, and mobile home parks. It limits when landlords can evict tenants (requiring serious violations or business reasons), mandates 180 days' written notice for rent increases, and caps late fees based on rent amount (e.g., $12/day max for rents under $700/month). Landlords must justify rent hikes above inflation with specific costs like repairs, property taxes, or utility expenses. The changes apply to new evictions and rent increases starting upon the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2369: A bill for an act relating to county and city regulation of accessory dwelling units.

This bill requires Iowa counties and cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or secondary home, on the same lot as a single-family residence in areas where single-family homes are permitted. It sets clear size limits: ADUs cannot exceed 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main home’s size (excluding unfinished basements), and defines "size" to exclude garages and decks. The bill also restricts local governments from banning ADUs solely due to historic preservation rules - ADUs in historic districts can only be limited if a commission documents they clash with the area’s historical character. This directly affects homeowners in single-family zones seeking to build or rent out secondary living spaces.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Historic Preservation Renters Zoning

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SSB 3128: A bill for an act relating to city utilities including tenant notification.

This bill (SSB 3128) creates a lien exemption for residential rental properties where tenants pay utility charges (sewer, storm water, waste, gas, electric) directly to the city. It requires landlords to provide written notice to the city utility confirming the property is rental and the tenant is liable for charges, or allows tenants to provide this notice if the landlord has an active rental license. The bill sets limits on required deposits (up to 90 days for some utilities, 60 days for gas/electric) and mandates the city return deposits if all charges are paid in full when tenants move out. It applies directly to tenants in rental housing and city utilities managing these services.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2551: A bill for an act relating to rent increases under residential landlord and tenant rental agreements and in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks.

HF 2551 limits how much landlords can raise rent for current tenants in Iowa residential rentals and mobile home parks. It sets a cap: rent increases cannot exceed either the Midwest region's consumer price index (CPI) increase or the county-assessed property value increase over the past year, whichever is higher. Landlords must provide written notice of any increase at least 90 days before it takes effect, and the new rent cannot start before the current lease ends. This directly affects existing tenants in both standard housing and manufactured home communities.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SF 2435: A bill for an act relating to local government by modifying property tax credits and rent reimbursements, provisions governing abandoned mobile homes and personal property in rural areas, and tax sales.

This Iowa bill (SF 2435) modifies property tax credits for elderly and disabled homeowners and streamlines rules for abandoned mobile homes in rural areas. It updates eligibility for annual property tax credits paid by June 15 and rent reimbursements paid by December 31, directly affecting qualifying low-income seniors and disabled residents. The bill creates a new definition for "valueless homes" (mobile homes with no market value on rural property) and allows rural property owners or mobile home park operators to remove these without court orders, requiring written notice to county treasurers within 10 days. It also adds procedures for issuing new titles to third parties and ensures tax sales can be postponed for disaster-related reasons.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes Renters

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SF 2106: A bill for an act relating to residential rental property price fixing, and providing civil penalties.

SF 2106, the "Iowa Residential Rent Fairness and Anticollusion Act," prohibits landlords managing five or more properties from coordinating rent prices with other landlords or using algorithmic rent-setting systems that rely on nonpublic competitor data. It specifically bans software, AI, or automated tools that set rent based on secret data from other landlords without human review, treating this as price fixing. Violators face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per rental unit per month, injunctions, and restitution for tenants overcharged. The bill also requires landlords and algorithm providers to maintain records for five years and allows tenants to sue for damages if harmed by violations.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

Sub-Topics Renters Artificial Intelligence

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2134: A bill for an act relating to rental agreements and early termination rights of tenants who are victims of certain crimes.

This bill allows tenants who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, or certain other qualifying crimes to terminate rental agreements early without penalty. To do so, tenants must provide written notice to their landlord with specific documentation, such as a protective order, police report, or certified medical documentation from a healthcare provider. Landlords cannot charge fees, report negative credit information, or refuse to rent based on this termination right. Tenants remain responsible for rent through the termination date but are not liable for future rent if the unit is re-rented, and cannot be charged for forfeiting deposits.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SSB 3034: A bill for an act relating to state and local government taxes, budgets, and authority, by modifying provisions relating to the assessment and taxation of property, funding from the secure an advanced vision for education fund, the election of certain county officers, urban renewal areas and urban revitalization areas, establishing a rent reimbursement program, establishing a program for certain first-time homebuyers, establishing a local government shared-services grant fund, making appropriations, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.

SSB 3034 establishes new limits on local government property tax levies and reserve funds for budgets certified after July 1, 2027. It caps the maximum property tax levy at 102% of the prior year's total plus new valuation growth (from construction, boundary changes, etc.), and restricts unassigned general fund reserves to no more than 10% of budgeted expenditures. These rules apply to cities, counties, and other local governments (excluding school districts), with the Department of Management overseeing compliance. The bill also modifies audit requirements to verify adherence to these financial limits.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget Property Taxes Renters

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SF 2024: A bill for an act relating to local government by modifying property tax credits and rent reimbursements, provisions governing abandoned mobile homes and personal property in rural areas, and tax sales.

This bill modifies Iowa's property tax credit system for low-income elderly and disabled residents, ensuring timely annual payments for property taxes or rent reimbursements. It streamlines the removal of abandoned mobile homes on rural property by allowing landowners or mobile home park operators to remove "valueless homes" (defined as abandoned homes with no market value) without court orders, requiring only 10 days' written notice to the county treasurer. The bill also updates tax sale rules to prevent splits or consolidations of land parcels during redemption periods or with unpaid taxes. These changes directly affect rural property owners, mobile home park operators, and low-income homeowners/renters.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Renters

All housing bills