Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.23A
Wrongful failure to supply running water or essential services
Operative Text
1. If contrary to the rental agreement or section 562B.16 the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply running water or other essential services, the tenant may give written notice to the landlord specifying the breach and may do one of the following: a. Procure reasonable amounts of water or other essential services during the period of the landlord’s noncompliance and deduct the actual and reasonable cost from the rent. b. Recover damages based upon the diminution in the fair market value of the mobile home space. c. Recover any rent already paid for the period of the landlord’s noncompliance which shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis. 2. If the tenant proceeds under this section, the tenant may not proceed under section 562B.22 as to that breach. 3. The rights under this section do not arise until the tenant has given notice to the landlord or if the condition was caused by the deliberate or negligent act or omission of the tenant, a member of the tenant’s family, or other person on the premises with the consent of the tenant.
Iowa Code § 562B.23A addresses situations where a landlord deliberately or negligently fails to provide running water or other essential services to a mobile home space, contrary to the rental agreement or statutory duties. When this occurs, the tenant must first give written notice identifying the specific breach before any remedies become available. The provision then allows the tenant to pursue one of three remedies: obtaining the services independently and deducting the cost from rent, seeking damages for the reduced value of the space, or recovering a pro-rated refund of rent already paid during the period of noncompliance. A tenant who pursues remedies under this section cannot simultaneously pursue the rent-withholding remedies available under § 562B.22 for the same breach.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562B.23A, operators of mobile home parks are expected to maintain a continuous supply of running water and other essential services as required by the rental agreement and § 562B.16. A compliant operator responds promptly to any written notice from a tenant identifying a service failure, working to restore services before the tenant exercises self-help remedies such as deducting costs from rent. Keeping records of maintenance responses and service restoration efforts helps demonstrate that any lapse was neither deliberate nor negligent.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562B.23A gives mobile home tenants specific remedies when a landlord deliberately or negligently cuts off running water or other essential services, but written notice to the landlord identifying the breach is required before any remedy becomes available. Once notice is given, a tenant may choose among deducting the cost of self-procured services from rent, recovering damages for the diminished value of the space, or seeking a pro-rated refund of rent already paid. Tenants can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand which remedy fits their circumstances, and should be aware that pursuing a remedy under § 562B.23A means the § 562B.22 remedies cannot also be used for the same breach.
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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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation