Iowa Code ch. 562A § 562A.31
Landlord liens — distress for rent
Operative Text
1. A lien on behalf of the landlord on the tenant’s household goods is not enforceable unless perfected before January 1, 1979. 2. Distraint for rent is abolished.
Iowa Code § 562A.31 eliminates two older legal mechanisms that landlords once used to claim a tenant's property as security for unpaid rent. Landlord liens on a tenant's household goods are unenforceable unless they were legally established before January 1, 1979. Additionally, the practice of distraint for rent — a self-help remedy that allowed landlords to seize a tenant's belongings to satisfy a rent debt — has been abolished entirely under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562A.31, property owners and managers have no legal authority to place a lien on a tenant's household goods unless that lien was perfected prior to January 1, 1979, which in practice means no such liens are available to modern landlords. The remedy of distraint — physically seizing or holding a tenant's personal property to recover unpaid rent — is also abolished and cannot be used as a collection tool. Compliant operators pursuing unpaid rent generally rely on the court system and other remedies provided under Iowa law rather than any claim against a tenant's personal belongings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562A.31 provides strong protections for tenants' personal property: a landlord generally cannot enforce any lien against your household goods, and the old practice of distraint for rent has been abolished, meaning a landlord has no legal authority to seize your belongings to collect unpaid rent. If a landlord attempts to claim or take personal property in connection with a rent dispute, this provision may be relevant as a defense or basis for a complaint. Tenants who believe their property rights under § 562A.31 have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand the options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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