Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.32
Retaliatory conduct prohibited
Operative Text
1. Except as provided in this section, a landlord shall not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services or by bringing or threatening to bring an action for possession or by failing to renew a rental agreement after any of the following: a. The tenant has complained to a governmental agency charged with responsibility for enforcement of a building or housing code of a violation applicable to the manufactured home community or mobile home park materially affecting health and safety. For this subsection to apply, a complaint filed with a governmental body must be in good faith. b. The tenant has complained to the landlord of a violation under section 562B.16. c. The tenant has organized or become a member of a tenant’s union or similar organization. d. For exercising any of the rights and remedies pursuant to this chapter or chapter 216. 2. If the landlord acts in violation of subsection 1 of this section, the tenant is entitled to the remedies provided in section 562B.24 and has a defense in an action for possession. In an action by or against the tenant, evidence of a complaint within one year prior to the alleged act of retaliation creates a presumption that the landlord’s conduct was in retaliation. The presumption does not arise if the tenant made the complaint after notice of termination of the rental agreement. For the purpose of this subsection, “presumption” means that the trier of fact must find the existence of the fact presumed unless and until evidence is introduced which would support a finding of its nonexistence. 3. Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 2 of this section, a landlord may bring an action for possession if either of the following occurs: a. The violation of the applicable building or housing code was caused primarily by lack of reasonable care by the tenant or other person in the household or upon the premises with the tenant’s consent. b. The tenant is in default of rent three days after rent is due. The maintenance of the action does not release the landlord from liability under section 562B.22, subsection 2.
Iowa Code § 562B.32 prohibits landlords in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks from retaliating against tenants who report housing or building code violations to a government agency, complain to the landlord about habitability issues, join a tenant organization, or exercise rights under Chapter 562B or Chapter 216. If a landlord does retaliate—by raising rent, cutting services, threatening eviction, or refusing to renew a lease—the tenant gains access to statutory remedies and may use the retaliation as a defense in an eviction proceeding. A complaint made within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a legal presumption that the landlord's action was retaliatory, though that presumption does not apply if the tenant complained only after already receiving a termination notice.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562B.32, compliant operators in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks are careful to ensure that any rent increases, service changes, non-renewals, or eviction actions are grounded in legitimate, documented business or lease-compliance reasons entirely unrelated to a tenant's protected activity. Operators generally maintain clear records showing the independent basis for any adverse action, particularly when a tenant has recently filed a code complaint or joined a tenant organization. The statute does preserve the right to pursue possession when a code violation was primarily caused by the tenant's own lack of reasonable care, or when a tenant is three or more days behind on rent, provided those actions are properly documented.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562B.32 gives tenants in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks protection against landlord actions—such as rent hikes, service reductions, eviction threats, or non-renewals—taken in response to reporting code violations, complaining about habitability, joining a tenant union, or exercising legal rights under the chapter. If a tenant made a complaint within the year before the landlord's adverse action, the law creates a presumption of retaliation that the landlord must overcome with contrary evidence. Tenants who believe they are experiencing retaliation may raise it as a defense in an eviction case, pursue remedies available under § 562B.24, or seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization familiar with Iowa manufactured housing law.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation