Iowa rent increase law

Notify each tenant in writing of any rent increase at least 30 days before it takes effect. The effective date may not be sooner than the end of the original rental agreement or of any renewal or extension of it.

Iowa Code § 562A.13(5)

• Plan delivery as well as the 30-day lead time. Iowa Code 562A.8 allows hand delivery, a signed and dated acknowledgment by an adult resident, personal service, both regular and certified mail, dated posting on the primary entrance door within the service period, or a method that results in actual receipt. Mail service is complete four days after deposit and postmark, whether or not the recipient signs. Keep the notice and delivery evidence; sending an email alone does not establish actual receipt. Termination notices have separate service rules under 562A.29A. Iowa Code 562A.8 and 562A.13(5)

Iowa Code 364.3(9) bars a city from limiting rent for privately owned residential or commercial property. Iowa Code 331.304(10) places the same limit on counties. Each provision preserves authority to manage and control residential property in which that city or county has a property interest.

Iowa Code 364.3(9) Iowa Code 331.304(10)

• These limits on local rent regulation do not remove the written rent-increase notice, lease-term or retaliation protections described above. Check property-specific assistance and program requirements before choosing an amount or effective date. No city or county code or housing-program rules were reviewed for this addition. Iowa Code 562A.13(5) and 562A.36

You may not retaliate by increasing rent, decreasing services, or bringing or threatening an action for possession after the tenant has complained to a government agency about a building or housing code violation materially affecting health and safety, complained to you about a violation of your repair duties, or organized or joined a tenants' union or similar group.

Iowa Code § 562A.36

• A tenant who is retaliated against may recover actual damages and reasonable attorney fees and has a defense in an action for possession. Iowa Code § 562A.36
• A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption that your conduct was retaliatory, unless the tenant complained after notice of a proposed rent increase or reduction in services. Evidence that your legitimate costs of owning, maintaining or operating the unit have gone up is a defense to the presumption for a rent increase in line with those costs. Iowa Code § 562A.36
• You may still bring an action for possession when the code violation was caused mainly by lack of reasonable care by the tenant, a household member or a person on the premises with the tenant's consent, when the tenant is behind on rent, or when complying with the code requires alteration, remodeling or demolition that would effectively deprive the tenant of use of the unit. Iowa Code § 562A.36